tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41992017260991579362024-03-19T06:39:47.052-07:00The Chronicles of FujiThis is a blog dedicated to documenting the life of a short, chunky, Japanese guy who collects cards.Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.comBlogger2490125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-37580244958532608072024-03-17T16:30:00.000-07:002024-03-17T16:30:00.142-07:00Starting Another Run<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">A little over a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">decade</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> ago... I decided to put together a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">complete run</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2011/10/my-lefty-project.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Steve Carlton's</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Topps</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">flagship base</span><span style="color: #999999;"> (and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">traded</span><span style="color: #999999;">) </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999;">. Next up was </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2012/04/walrus-project.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Thurman Munson</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">. In </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">2022</span><span style="color: #999999;">, I completed the </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2022/02/another-topps-base-card-run.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Steve Largent</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">run</span><span style="color: #999999;">. A month later, the </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2022/03/ripped-up-ruth.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Tony Gwynn</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">run</span><span style="color: #999999;"> was finished too.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">After putting it off for far too many years... </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">last month</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> I decided to </span><i style="color: #999999;">start another run</i><span style="color: #999999;">. This time, the subject is </span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">The Man of Steal</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">. Before </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Gwynn</span><span style="color: #999999;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Rickey</span><span style="color: #999999;"> was my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">favorite baseball player</span><span style="color: #999999;">. In fact... had he not been </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">traded</span><span style="color: #999999;"> to the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">New York Yankees</span><span style="color: #999999;"> back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">December</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">1984</span><span style="color: #999999;">... there's a chance he still would be.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Ultimately, he'd return to the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">A's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1989</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and help them beat the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">San Francisco Giants</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">World Series</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Unfortunately by then... there was no way he unseat </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mr. Padre</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. But he'd settle comfortably into the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">#2</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">spot</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> which is where he has remained ever since.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Over </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">forty years</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> after becoming a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">fan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... I'm now making a point of <i>completing his run</i>. Considering all of the teams he's played for over his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">twenty-five season career</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... I've quickly discovered this is going to be </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">a lot tougher</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> than anticipated.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Let's start off with what I have...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4m7kRLHyrCWZZfQI2Rheredmfn5532gU-2r645-RjDUp0_U_pGhErXNOkB2fT8CT0rwgW_2TD5QAhOIOuTUMgtBvpNPDy6GvL9IYNg7O9oVDupb8qqk-Q2R27jXp-oqCHxo-21zP2Wygei3Pgq9an5VeIngx8jpFzppxtzEUR2q8LbEQaMha31WRmwk/s1050/tbcr-henderson-82.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="757" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4m7kRLHyrCWZZfQI2Rheredmfn5532gU-2r645-RjDUp0_U_pGhErXNOkB2fT8CT0rwgW_2TD5QAhOIOuTUMgtBvpNPDy6GvL9IYNg7O9oVDupb8qqk-Q2R27jXp-oqCHxo-21zP2Wygei3Pgq9an5VeIngx8jpFzppxtzEUR2q8LbEQaMha31WRmwk/s320/tbcr-henderson-82.jpg" width="231" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1982 Topps #610</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">As of right now, his </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1982</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">oldest</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">run</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. This is a chance to explain one of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">guidelines</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I've created for myself... which is that the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">base card runs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> are not part of a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> or </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set build</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Rickey's 1980 Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rookie card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">perfect example</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I own a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">complete set </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1980 Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but I'm not willing to pull it out for this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">project</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The same thing applies to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">a few other cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">project</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">: his </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1981</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1983</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1985</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1995</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeZJu_sm-m_qhc0OhCGLqUyzcs0q3jVCoI51yum87BSArSEec08cOonydD8GUgBrFAA6ljDIPIkN279FBfwlF_XMDqsCv8SNjo_eGsIKZy3GbwZjV3Jqc3t8leXQC2jbz1RwzNHjvTmMn6szqAjZH0AhyphenhyphenCHSAopz58IfTPKHCWOmjL0k3YSCe9JU8sXk/s1050/tbcr-henderson-84.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="763" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeZJu_sm-m_qhc0OhCGLqUyzcs0q3jVCoI51yum87BSArSEec08cOonydD8GUgBrFAA6ljDIPIkN279FBfwlF_XMDqsCv8SNjo_eGsIKZy3GbwZjV3Jqc3t8leXQC2jbz1RwzNHjvTmMn6szqAjZH0AhyphenhyphenCHSAopz58IfTPKHCWOmjL0k3YSCe9JU8sXk/w146-h200/tbcr-henderson-84.jpg" width="146" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos3SI9b90sGI5yEl8h1bxmFABKZr9wFWZFiaZ078vQL3QUazgqf7Cew1XOSa6lgkM8M3p43h7gY7Eyu_xU-OAdnyLVTGg6B_hjRMOQ_zG0Aan3RgoNblAod6tLf_TYjPxN5_Gg9XDN3ngvRjffxk7qgMSy82qsL7tHkdn0j6DD95FfaAfE7RSN51dtw0/s1050/tbcr-henderson-85.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="757" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgos3SI9b90sGI5yEl8h1bxmFABKZr9wFWZFiaZ078vQL3QUazgqf7Cew1XOSa6lgkM8M3p43h7gY7Eyu_xU-OAdnyLVTGg6B_hjRMOQ_zG0Aan3RgoNblAod6tLf_TYjPxN5_Gg9XDN3ngvRjffxk7qgMSy82qsL7tHkdn0j6DD95FfaAfE7RSN51dtw0/w144-h200/tbcr-henderson-85.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAIS9A0pAmx_PXh8wf2VkQLbxwvw1_SgEgRgxFGgvOXL-Nk1ch8mmMHGXJ7aTiHR7yl6z6L66fxMBW35f2yXR3oFizRxI9qKbB8pNudJVDLXpr2BMlsEpfAN3cyZQLlszgsOrXZCA_WuaO8sgdyDlOlwZSVYB3_mlOpHny1Wa7QGzAVk9rlFGgYeWG20/s1050/tbcr-henderson-87.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="755" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAIS9A0pAmx_PXh8wf2VkQLbxwvw1_SgEgRgxFGgvOXL-Nk1ch8mmMHGXJ7aTiHR7yl6z6L66fxMBW35f2yXR3oFizRxI9qKbB8pNudJVDLXpr2BMlsEpfAN3cyZQLlszgsOrXZCA_WuaO8sgdyDlOlwZSVYB3_mlOpHny1Wa7QGzAVk9rlFGgYeWG20/w144-h200/tbcr-henderson-87.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1984 Topps #230</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1985 Topps #115</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1987 Topps #735</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLt3xwjdBxsgtZBJgaTepJYt24o9xDatcqvibnRHK1ymk6QhKjZAO7B_2W2wEFSSqS2ygrYv18Z00Who4YfKGjSNBuntK9Z1FbJF4DLoPIsUf4h8ZyfA9LVP9EmRjotNHUu7tyM_9B1e9VDe6nubOYje1aYobAXn3nnudPFoj8yFI7J8noKo8WnFPgzgc/s1050/tbcr-henderson-88.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="753" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLt3xwjdBxsgtZBJgaTepJYt24o9xDatcqvibnRHK1ymk6QhKjZAO7B_2W2wEFSSqS2ygrYv18Z00Who4YfKGjSNBuntK9Z1FbJF4DLoPIsUf4h8ZyfA9LVP9EmRjotNHUu7tyM_9B1e9VDe6nubOYje1aYobAXn3nnudPFoj8yFI7J8noKo8WnFPgzgc/w143-h200/tbcr-henderson-88.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4V1kH-QsPjlkk3Q6tzuZhB8SyMSPNsChmWBda1UnsOlq01OZ5_JLlfMhYT24JK9N-wRxsar-mhBo3XlMeVMX258Lqln8dzCO5PRfkakFMr0hohaK_yW1fHzzAgYScqQmlX-vNL-eK9US6bglE0LdngQdrPqyz0JSpfP3htMSXyOxNtdLlyzh8udLG8cE/s1050/tbcr-henderson-89.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="757" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4V1kH-QsPjlkk3Q6tzuZhB8SyMSPNsChmWBda1UnsOlq01OZ5_JLlfMhYT24JK9N-wRxsar-mhBo3XlMeVMX258Lqln8dzCO5PRfkakFMr0hohaK_yW1fHzzAgYScqQmlX-vNL-eK9US6bglE0LdngQdrPqyz0JSpfP3htMSXyOxNtdLlyzh8udLG8cE/w144-h200/tbcr-henderson-89.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedVW100VvuOm3PQJjGTlRWav_CxMYiCV6sFq1yr0ayd1wZgTTF21KJ6kuT4n_pe9INzpC3LFN_hzdXAntlD1x3wGjhc2PqOoEEOESszctLRLS5kUiWgLqB4Lh1_fgTcnYOKiTRr35zAiMETYXIFd7U5NUJUpCr3QfQn-QtHonUohoD7S-vWqptlIjTZQ/s1050/tbcr-henderson-89t.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="764" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedVW100VvuOm3PQJjGTlRWav_CxMYiCV6sFq1yr0ayd1wZgTTF21KJ6kuT4n_pe9INzpC3LFN_hzdXAntlD1x3wGjhc2PqOoEEOESszctLRLS5kUiWgLqB4Lh1_fgTcnYOKiTRr35zAiMETYXIFd7U5NUJUpCr3QfQn-QtHonUohoD7S-vWqptlIjTZQ/w146-h200/tbcr-henderson-89t.jpg" width="146" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1988 Topps #60</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1989 Topps #380</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1989 Topps Traded #48T</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutXHiLxSkK71Vz0jp8yY6e8NjeiDjIWXdd1cYTIr0B36sTqEf3rXTE29vjYBp2RYzNLe4iH5USXwKFVsj93GM0l9L-xW0oWzrwJJq9HmLpDET82ojF5ZaMdDBKdQtB06L1tu7XZeaPIgh1tL76XUfhFK8B_TaFTz6DqKjP0FvEJOwSQLuGWsRGdGQE5M/s1050/tbcr-henderson-90.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="751" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgutXHiLxSkK71Vz0jp8yY6e8NjeiDjIWXdd1cYTIr0B36sTqEf3rXTE29vjYBp2RYzNLe4iH5USXwKFVsj93GM0l9L-xW0oWzrwJJq9HmLpDET82ojF5ZaMdDBKdQtB06L1tu7XZeaPIgh1tL76XUfhFK8B_TaFTz6DqKjP0FvEJOwSQLuGWsRGdGQE5M/w143-h200/tbcr-henderson-90.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvnCXXHFsYaXzhjCTKrvesH4xQ__0YoFmpuffX8e-K_niiHYPSUmE3ZSkeRYebk2_DDctAd29avXQrVpoeDLMmaOiww8SZbregWkgxZjqJnXhmdbtNA7Y0yqEewf5jMeUWH1OaUFfrxjWj0xDPM_Lc1GBUPteG1uuB_-QxLungnuBCAVpzr9i7Im8fjo/s1050/tbcr-henderson-91.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="1050" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyvnCXXHFsYaXzhjCTKrvesH4xQ__0YoFmpuffX8e-K_niiHYPSUmE3ZSkeRYebk2_DDctAd29avXQrVpoeDLMmaOiww8SZbregWkgxZjqJnXhmdbtNA7Y0yqEewf5jMeUWH1OaUFfrxjWj0xDPM_Lc1GBUPteG1uuB_-QxLungnuBCAVpzr9i7Im8fjo/w200-h143/tbcr-henderson-91.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1990 Topps #450</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1991 Topps #670</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hyphenhyphenlIdSuuyEIxMt5P2eK1NYQlkT4KwuXXQt-gvbFBd71DME5e81KXNx8Xnu4ryATk-sOzmuX05MlpE4lkCnN7CiuWmo5HrMiKatfAExh-7JIB_3V4Uvm87GJquzaSz9hk7aqw4HV_IochYutdwuD5ztkYer-eeKSsHJgkfeSIYDgtsrlPLx377mDFVYM/s1050/tbcr-henderson-92.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="757" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4hyphenhyphenlIdSuuyEIxMt5P2eK1NYQlkT4KwuXXQt-gvbFBd71DME5e81KXNx8Xnu4ryATk-sOzmuX05MlpE4lkCnN7CiuWmo5HrMiKatfAExh-7JIB_3V4Uvm87GJquzaSz9hk7aqw4HV_IochYutdwuD5ztkYer-eeKSsHJgkfeSIYDgtsrlPLx377mDFVYM/w144-h200/tbcr-henderson-92.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoCCwi-3bjziyIqTd7RFGNdZKv94EjeZlRE5j7SC_TT4yCphdRbBweGaHqH9hLngb_qYezR33EMecTxJw3YKg5lkKfK9W9KLutHEiCXy6SjoZAcdEXJgK-RBvyF6E1F78Mlhn3tMHbQbgLksAKiJ0zPb0hpn7HSryRb4wjhSScRfTkoGkIYhegFNqeaQ/s1050/tbcr-henderson-93.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="763" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoCCwi-3bjziyIqTd7RFGNdZKv94EjeZlRE5j7SC_TT4yCphdRbBweGaHqH9hLngb_qYezR33EMecTxJw3YKg5lkKfK9W9KLutHEiCXy6SjoZAcdEXJgK-RBvyF6E1F78Mlhn3tMHbQbgLksAKiJ0zPb0hpn7HSryRb4wjhSScRfTkoGkIYhegFNqeaQ/w146-h200/tbcr-henderson-93.jpg" width="146" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1992 Topps #560</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1993 Topps #750</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnZPxs2kxMleIX_GXi6qcDXO2x0KWiY0TWno7Pk4GCaU8nEq6jdwRdwiZxpkel-sVmOqLPaQe8wlNdT1qhzvzjOhycIPWIa7wQ0SHmZa5evDx9mw1GQMy8OOoLXQYi3C8mIhLrqllQsZ2M2U8thDC1uFVKFPV-ztGCKm3z6tW4hU3-1Jkbz8N1ZtA4xM/s1075/tbcr-henderson-94.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="765" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnnZPxs2kxMleIX_GXi6qcDXO2x0KWiY0TWno7Pk4GCaU8nEq6jdwRdwiZxpkel-sVmOqLPaQe8wlNdT1qhzvzjOhycIPWIa7wQ0SHmZa5evDx9mw1GQMy8OOoLXQYi3C8mIhLrqllQsZ2M2U8thDC1uFVKFPV-ztGCKm3z6tW4hU3-1Jkbz8N1ZtA4xM/w143-h200/tbcr-henderson-94.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFyl_Bs6FmARZP1TljAKJl7rdViPB1abqlHj6u66xN03T4dRT_9VoUVYZ4_gl3Lw5Dlfg2iFnIqTtnxd8Xej2lW2os41tAVXWPIH4ODm11XGYjuQXJL467dQPv37RS10kYtTYtGwnDkDNjoB4xB1QY1BqJHKr_91wbRpW03XgN2L_TIJpBqWnjLvsQX8/s1050/tbcr-henderson-97.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="758" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFyl_Bs6FmARZP1TljAKJl7rdViPB1abqlHj6u66xN03T4dRT_9VoUVYZ4_gl3Lw5Dlfg2iFnIqTtnxd8Xej2lW2os41tAVXWPIH4ODm11XGYjuQXJL467dQPv37RS10kYtTYtGwnDkDNjoB4xB1QY1BqJHKr_91wbRpW03XgN2L_TIJpBqWnjLvsQX8/w144-h200/tbcr-henderson-97.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1994 Topps #248</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1997 Topps #96</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Over the span of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Rickey's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">career</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">produced</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> a staggering </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">twenty-nine flagship regular</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">non-subset</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">) </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">base</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">traded cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. As of today, I currently have </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">thirteen</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in possession, plus </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sitting in a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> over at </span><a href="https://www.sportlots.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Sportlots</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">, and hopefully four more are on their way to my </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Sportlots</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">box</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Assuming these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">seven</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> eventually arrive safe and sound, I'll be down to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">nine cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Here's a look at the ones I need:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpRlEEMAXVec8soVwlyFbmmONsOu8nARIzY9vSL9r_eGL-AVciiFdyB8EEWKNfstp9U2OMSeg5P2Ch0PyScEd-iAzqDr8Gd3ga1At8hhFqh0SSNzrM8XUkAcMjHkOYYJDepjv4jdOhc-FvHYgiWTJMGVsgHLFDH0jYKfm3FdnaGi3RY4uiePTw7Xzs_Y/s1401/rickey-tbcr-needs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="1401" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCpRlEEMAXVec8soVwlyFbmmONsOu8nARIzY9vSL9r_eGL-AVciiFdyB8EEWKNfstp9U2OMSeg5P2Ch0PyScEd-iAzqDr8Gd3ga1At8hhFqh0SSNzrM8XUkAcMjHkOYYJDepjv4jdOhc-FvHYgiWTJMGVsgHLFDH0jYKfm3FdnaGi3RY4uiePTw7Xzs_Y/w640-h144/rickey-tbcr-needs.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">four cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> highlighted in </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">red</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were purchased </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">over three weeks ago</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and haven't arrived... so I'm starting to think I'll need to purchase them again.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">His </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rookie card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> will set me back a little, but I'm not too worried about that </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Living in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bay Area</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I'm hoping to find an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">affordable</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">lower grade</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">raw copy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">reasonable price</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Not sure what the deal is with his </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2002</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2003 Topps Traded</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. If I'm lucky, I'll have to pay </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$15</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2003</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Outside of his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rookie card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, that's about the most I want to pay for a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">project</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Sadly... that puts me in kind of a bind, because his </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2002</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">traded card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> currently sells in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$50</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$80</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">range</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. <b><i> NO WAY WILL I PAY THAT KIND OF MONEY.</i></b> <i>Anyone know what the deal is with that card?</i> Anyways... maybe the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Hobby Gods </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">will help me out and I'll find it lingering in a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">dime box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> or </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">quarter bin</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">If not... this might be one of those </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">projects</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that take </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">years</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... possibly </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">decades</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to finish. That's kind of a bummer, but </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">let's wrap things up on a happier note.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">December</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Gavin</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> showed off this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">gorgeous custom</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Rickey's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rookie card</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> on his </span><a href="https://baseballcardbreakdown.blogspot.com/2023/12/cardboard-digest.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">blog</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SMZSnqgWLigwmdX0KUNqBwHx04U7ppF4y-px8eKhEx7cWXMZ0DUJDSlMR45LcTtY8bOF0lyd9S7_ZL1VlfC8VggpnW67g8gK-KALezXtXbYqL4vgamHaeSdC05g4V4wxKXf9I5gayrZsOl2E7tDyNElnEZtYgcsT1hxD_shIQKaDrfuaeJlrosPhw1I/s1025/custom-defgav-2024-rickey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="722" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2SMZSnqgWLigwmdX0KUNqBwHx04U7ppF4y-px8eKhEx7cWXMZ0DUJDSlMR45LcTtY8bOF0lyd9S7_ZL1VlfC8VggpnW67g8gK-KALezXtXbYqL4vgamHaeSdC05g4V4wxKXf9I5gayrZsOl2E7tDyNElnEZtYgcsT1hxD_shIQKaDrfuaeJlrosPhw1I/s320/custom-defgav-2024-rickey.jpg" width="225" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Hold on. My </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">scanner</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> does not do this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> justice. Here's a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">photo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">custom</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVdZ3TtfzvLqRglz-HRuD55YxtqTxoihrD2iiIBbekvhEgMlFADv5lNVoVOT5TYCUZuOVzaO-lZgUUD__rTWlCfl8l1mlW8YlFZ5fBU5UIsWDETNl5uVdWdtPMgCYGfcqB3zaXuwLbeJm7FOmTcidOYt9E__3T_4WN0SqoapCF2BI7upJaWPO69db3gM/s1900/custom-defgav-2024-rickey3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1900" data-original-width="1377" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVdZ3TtfzvLqRglz-HRuD55YxtqTxoihrD2iiIBbekvhEgMlFADv5lNVoVOT5TYCUZuOVzaO-lZgUUD__rTWlCfl8l1mlW8YlFZ5fBU5UIsWDETNl5uVdWdtPMgCYGfcqB3zaXuwLbeJm7FOmTcidOYt9E__3T_4WN0SqoapCF2BI7upJaWPO69db3gM/s320/custom-defgav-2024-rickey3.jpg" width="232" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><i><span style="color: #999999;">Is this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">card</span><span style="color: #999999;"> awesome or what?</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> It actually looks way better in person. And it's absolutely </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">perfect</span><span style="color: #999999;"> for a</span><span style="color: #ffa400;"> St. Patrick's Day</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">post</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Anyways... when he first showed it off... I asked him he was planning on selling it. He didn't reply to my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">comment</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but eventually this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> showed up in my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">mailbox</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">note</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> thanking me for supporting his </span><a href="https://1991musicards.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">1991 MusiCards Blog</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdG05kFdk51rySAJt9j9UHpnrzM4qcVp6saEJkQz3-iXd-w2GwR2IVabWrjZ1IRIQAoraUHba6zJnW4xPmx8SWNT4KJivDjVHlaX-qis6QCbL6k6KCuCQ7MhjrRzfUX6zuw1kAooOOdq_bOKbJqC21mrjLvGasl8f6V_Qh12Riyzsi2eV-WFiwiTG4u_E/s1025/custom-defgav-2024-rickey2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1025" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdG05kFdk51rySAJt9j9UHpnrzM4qcVp6saEJkQz3-iXd-w2GwR2IVabWrjZ1IRIQAoraUHba6zJnW4xPmx8SWNT4KJivDjVHlaX-qis6QCbL6k6KCuCQ7MhjrRzfUX6zuw1kAooOOdq_bOKbJqC21mrjLvGasl8f6V_Qh12Riyzsi2eV-WFiwiTG4u_E/s320/custom-defgav-2024-rickey2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">He </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">signed</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the back... and noted that this is a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one-of-a-kind custom</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and his </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1st Green Super</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Can't wait to see what other</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"> Green Supers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> he produces.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">He also used the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">scraps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">custom</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Canseco</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">reject</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to produce this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one-of-a-kind card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HUqgr_j0-ti_KJcPlOhgPHnkkJnxkFTrLFs28Xaj_I5qszhyJ1ou3zAR63W1NhveBiTw21c9DQ5yTTaitl5lxsTiYsFSOj5FL_x0Uq2SBqKjG2yzSra2UfUeXdzRQcTF6kN34g1yATVodoWAOXcwS7S_RpxBKN1ZdG6jDuXTwsBnsCIjupo7dwxGVJk/s1025/custom-defgav-2024-rickey4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="719" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HUqgr_j0-ti_KJcPlOhgPHnkkJnxkFTrLFs28Xaj_I5qszhyJ1ou3zAR63W1NhveBiTw21c9DQ5yTTaitl5lxsTiYsFSOj5FL_x0Uq2SBqKjG2yzSra2UfUeXdzRQcTF6kN34g1yATVodoWAOXcwS7S_RpxBKN1ZdG6jDuXTwsBnsCIjupo7dwxGVJk/w140-h200/custom-defgav-2024-rickey4.jpg" width="140" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbj3FB-fyxnKQ_HqXLfqnsnerriCBqyy0euMLWN9N4dTraj09bIj41iLlj6g9rZSByt_g8fbSnmf81KfL8MCgNr4SnkrKj3lUamD_ADMOwXp0rGxtrYOSmDEtfnRS8_fQ2P7RcyrzvG-moi5GXgi3fTK4j9uVeEWbeAnCEhbziKD9aOJZCwjcyfSKB54/s1025/custom-defgav-2024-rickey5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1025" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbj3FB-fyxnKQ_HqXLfqnsnerriCBqyy0euMLWN9N4dTraj09bIj41iLlj6g9rZSByt_g8fbSnmf81KfL8MCgNr4SnkrKj3lUamD_ADMOwXp0rGxtrYOSmDEtfnRS8_fQ2P7RcyrzvG-moi5GXgi3fTK4j9uVeEWbeAnCEhbziKD9aOJZCwjcyfSKB54/w200-h140/custom-defgav-2024-rickey5.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Green Super</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was put into a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">magnetic</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and will eventually be added to my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">A's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">shelf</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the office, while this </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Gold Super</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> will be added to my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Sports Card Smorgasbord</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">binder</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> which contains all of the other </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">customs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I've received from him and others over the years.</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Thank you</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Gavin</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for these welcomed additions to my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Rickey</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collection</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">St. Patrick's Day</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-1340495085463620782024-03-10T07:00:00.000-07:002024-03-10T07:00:00.134-07:00Cleaning Some Clutter<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">My classroom is </span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cluttered with cards</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> right now. The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">eighth graders</span><span style="color: #999999;"> are wrapping up the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">civil rights trading card projects</span><span style="color: #999999;">... while the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">seventh graders</span><span style="color: #999999;"> are designing </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">trading cards</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of themselves, the teammates, and for me.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Part of the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">7th</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">grade assignment</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">interview</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> me. This gives them an opportunity to learn about me while helping them fill the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card back</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">biographical information</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and other </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">facts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Almost every group add </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">strengths</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">weaknesses</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... along with an assortment of "</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">favorites</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">" to their list of questions.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'm not exactly someone who is particularly strong or good at anything interesting to kids... so I have been giving them very </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">vanilla responses</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> like "</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"><i>sorting</i></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">", "</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"><i>organizing</i></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">", and "</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"><i>cleaning</i></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">".</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Coincidentally... that's how I spent my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Saturday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">morning</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">goal</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">clear my desk</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">scan some cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and knock out a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blog post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Let's see if I achieved it.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">First up are </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two stacks of cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... which contain stuff from </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">flea market</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card show purchases</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> as well as stuff from </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">bloggers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. In an effort to keep this post short and simple, I'll only be showing off a handful of those </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... all of which are either </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">customs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> or </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">legendary </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Japanese</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> baseball players</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Let's start off with this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">custom card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Shohei Ohtani</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2neqA0dPC4JeMV-2-lj2FHuaxcTwcsykbffdNDKP_Caabfm9sXvqY6Dr2b6Xdd0JJTo-VgEaue_hgIUpkOhDhYIwn_BL040BMH_xSNtI26pMHeX0SSjWPg_UU_HxNExltmMa2PP1xZy2SWpLIR-I2Mfhyphenhyphenl2IcJGUJcOtjzdHQXtbZc9AwT96Md5JfGYk/s1075/nick-v-2023-custom-ohtani.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="771" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2neqA0dPC4JeMV-2-lj2FHuaxcTwcsykbffdNDKP_Caabfm9sXvqY6Dr2b6Xdd0JJTo-VgEaue_hgIUpkOhDhYIwn_BL040BMH_xSNtI26pMHeX0SSjWPg_UU_HxNExltmMa2PP1xZy2SWpLIR-I2Mfhyphenhyphenl2IcJGUJcOtjzdHQXtbZc9AwT96Md5JfGYk/s320/nick-v-2023-custom-ohtani.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Last year</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nick</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> over at</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: red;"> <a href="https://njwv.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">n j w v</a></span><span style="color: #999999;"> created a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">series</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">home run celebration hat cards</span><span style="color: #999999;"> utilizing the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">1981 Topps</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">baseball card design</span><span style="color: #999999;">. I'm not surprised that </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Ohtani's</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">kabuto</span><span style="color: #999999;"> made the checklist.</span></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQNKsBuOivHEw5so665olRT_dgjJsWBPiNLNfMneSGk29sHtKRmQGDfRVGd08b_E0uVDc63yo5duwVfzSRhWNG38mqmnAJG0nhyenNBjpuv8wQwTaI7Es3mSUBx6RS6T3TGJcBzrl6SskX8FPPnROCtcFoW5KWn0vVLsIOuzOPWrf169MHo6n7WHD4Jo/s1075/nick-v-2023-custom-ohtani2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1075" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQNKsBuOivHEw5so665olRT_dgjJsWBPiNLNfMneSGk29sHtKRmQGDfRVGd08b_E0uVDc63yo5duwVfzSRhWNG38mqmnAJG0nhyenNBjpuv8wQwTaI7Es3mSUBx6RS6T3TGJcBzrl6SskX8FPPnROCtcFoW5KWn0vVLsIOuzOPWrf169MHo6n7WHD4Jo/s320/nick-v-2023-custom-ohtani2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">In addition to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ohtani</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, he sent a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pair</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Padres</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">customs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I'm going to save them for the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Cinco de Mayo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Thank you</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nick</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">! </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Great job</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">customs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Very impressive.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Next up is a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">custom</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">legendary</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Sadaharu Oh</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> created by </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Gregory</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> over at </span><a href="https://ninepockets.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Nine Pockets</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloYIJgYQzos8I3y_b8amFCahPSOSIqpraOc0pmFvHzutaqo7A-3p5Z3KePGptHnukgEut3j9j3jQkowNmgKWlXURFwDHTTKijohLPaxHEzUGPCXZblwJQQVvkpn-dr3Nn5V8E0UJ-aOXVXOWn8pQM4blexGu-aL0fg_jLw_4o5RJfvEt47d3Q3hX0wu0/s1050/custom-9pockets-sadaharu-oh.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="531" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloYIJgYQzos8I3y_b8amFCahPSOSIqpraOc0pmFvHzutaqo7A-3p5Z3KePGptHnukgEut3j9j3jQkowNmgKWlXURFwDHTTKijohLPaxHEzUGPCXZblwJQQVvkpn-dr3Nn5V8E0UJ-aOXVXOWn8pQM4blexGu-aL0fg_jLw_4o5RJfvEt47d3Q3hX0wu0/s320/custom-9pockets-sadaharu-oh.jpg" width="162" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">I'm not the </span><a href="https://baseballcardbreakdown.blogspot.com/2023/05/vacation-hold-mailday.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">first blog</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> to show off this beauty and I'm sure I won't be the last. I </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">purchased</span><span style="color: #999999;"> a few </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">copies</span><span style="color: #999999;"> from his </span><a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/154801497408" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">eBay store</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">last year</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and was hoping to share it when I unveiled my copy of </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Oh's 1975 Menko Rocket Robot</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">card</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Unfortunately... I still don't own that </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Rocket Robot</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> yet... so I decided to pair it with </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nick's Ohtani</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">instead</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is printed on </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">clear plastic</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and doesn't contain any printing on the back:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2HlB_78DkcqORI3dLOst83AXEDr7_41BQKTq7sj3tpoBhxWyat2OmGITabEzQ83LlUcct2LjZZNw3NQgmz0SlZGtzBYvd0zuLZ4mkZUacWfayf2Dd42xbih7L5xfHd27F09eh1TQIQaT64VHOb-dClTNFHcvwZp9YmwWChR7KOYrJCMYKkmRCadB3rA/s1050/custom-9pockets-sadaharu-oh-reverse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="534" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2HlB_78DkcqORI3dLOst83AXEDr7_41BQKTq7sj3tpoBhxWyat2OmGITabEzQ83LlUcct2LjZZNw3NQgmz0SlZGtzBYvd0zuLZ4mkZUacWfayf2Dd42xbih7L5xfHd27F09eh1TQIQaT64VHOb-dClTNFHcvwZp9YmwWChR7KOYrJCMYKkmRCadB3rA/s320/custom-9pockets-sadaharu-oh-reverse.jpg" width="163" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This allows you turn </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Oh</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> into a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">switch hitter</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... or scan his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">different colored backgrounds</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJBg3mgPyYqnPh3jFyKmmf-Qk3ufOd_qqHi2-4HEAt_WJChKJpp53hlPi98b4KV-wVEkX7eNz_0EUyxqYz_1kkOZafzRAR7HPu5darHs_1b_ulF5-YZV54ReHYSRi2s5P1G9iDWRe-GnS-xBpdQdjAAt6zqZaxYCfKaY6gcD7KhYj9aq_otD1F-WaAmM/s1050/custom-9pockets-sadaharu-oh4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="535" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJBg3mgPyYqnPh3jFyKmmf-Qk3ufOd_qqHi2-4HEAt_WJChKJpp53hlPi98b4KV-wVEkX7eNz_0EUyxqYz_1kkOZafzRAR7HPu5darHs_1b_ulF5-YZV54ReHYSRi2s5P1G9iDWRe-GnS-xBpdQdjAAt6zqZaxYCfKaY6gcD7KhYj9aq_otD1F-WaAmM/w102-h200/custom-9pockets-sadaharu-oh4.jpg" width="102" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSlg3rutwFxdjvS6p7oSg_-fXNgwBt7UAhYSvTlAeswWjKrkiAnSFOeSVCqTUEGgzdIni9dweDj-QeXKY3OzF7SdZnB2rvoqhJKQ2PajcqoskGnanaWOLNH-3N88b0xjwGO5_oV_DuNR_htU5PNRacTDVRVstOnFe7jJy2jkNlZnNVKCo2ne8eRNtjLs/s1050/custom-9pockets-sadaharu-oh3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="532" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnSlg3rutwFxdjvS6p7oSg_-fXNgwBt7UAhYSvTlAeswWjKrkiAnSFOeSVCqTUEGgzdIni9dweDj-QeXKY3OzF7SdZnB2rvoqhJKQ2PajcqoskGnanaWOLNH-3N88b0xjwGO5_oV_DuNR_htU5PNRacTDVRVstOnFe7jJy2jkNlZnNVKCo2ne8eRNtjLs/w101-h200/custom-9pockets-sadaharu-oh3.jpg" width="101" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCe567bcfjcKEGKTGChg12Wn5UVcRVRcIx8QYdSCG8fCbW0J0RUU_3FNL_r9RISDiwmkc2621JTZFqI8Vu4m98iC4DUJY_eyD8ama_lminZO8g-lEHw7YZHH9gwUYaRHRTaqLebylCMB4cgRcvy7Y-UP5MNrPv3ZwgXwmjtAqjzkRqFbqj-bpBabMC9yc/s1050/custom-9pockets-sadaharu-oh2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="535" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCe567bcfjcKEGKTGChg12Wn5UVcRVRcIx8QYdSCG8fCbW0J0RUU_3FNL_r9RISDiwmkc2621JTZFqI8Vu4m98iC4DUJY_eyD8ama_lminZO8g-lEHw7YZHH9gwUYaRHRTaqLebylCMB4cgRcvy7Y-UP5MNrPv3ZwgXwmjtAqjzkRqFbqj-bpBabMC9yc/w102-h200/custom-9pockets-sadaharu-oh2.jpg" width="102" /></a></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">If you're interested in picking up a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">copy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for your own </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collection</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">, click </span><a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/154801497408" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">. It's perfect for any </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Oh</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">PC</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Last, but not least are some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">singles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Japanese PC</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bob</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> over at </span><a href="https://thebestbubble6884.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">The Best Bubble</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Here are the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three new additions</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ichiro</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">binder</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">: </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAQvgdUBAbxwYxi5lurfeNgwhvxkaZY3tTRxJMKjsX_NW1kr49T_liQ8__Waos9BIY8fwZGoHTBm0NfTrqkMkyYRQJmNj55ubT9paJxX8tXkkoS6-jlQaqhGFfE4ezKiOg_XeDaGI9BHt2apI-xBH-483_vBx-dgIYvpYmlteAN3Zv-gUZ0ad3keD3EU/s1025/bubble-2023-ichiro1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="737" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAQvgdUBAbxwYxi5lurfeNgwhvxkaZY3tTRxJMKjsX_NW1kr49T_liQ8__Waos9BIY8fwZGoHTBm0NfTrqkMkyYRQJmNj55ubT9paJxX8tXkkoS6-jlQaqhGFfE4ezKiOg_XeDaGI9BHt2apI-xBH-483_vBx-dgIYvpYmlteAN3Zv-gUZ0ad3keD3EU/s320/bubble-2023-ichiro1.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2002 Topps Pristine #10</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I took a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">break</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collecting</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> right around the time </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ichiro</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> stormed the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hobby</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... so I never got a chance to experience </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Topps Pristine</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and its </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">unique three packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> within a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pack</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> concept. It was cool to see </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> bring this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">product</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> back. Unfortunately... with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">triple digit price tags</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... it looks like I won't be experiencing the thrill of tearing into </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Pristine</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> anytime soon.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbXnlJVVNgZoQbhXVoC_gWnb3sUGlzSk00Xq4_B_4bm0JDXDM3_Qh1cjqu32Feb4eOIOQ1xU5gRjVsWY9Jf-UXJrWuVeTkCvVFfB8fQ4oBlZAMB_25EjeQRAgiC9VazWEvZYp-hhOt_gcQpuwh7kkadnmj6hlE2gtFdtfyj36apN66DG0euSvQdmbkoY/s1025/bubble-2023-ichiro2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="739" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbXnlJVVNgZoQbhXVoC_gWnb3sUGlzSk00Xq4_B_4bm0JDXDM3_Qh1cjqu32Feb4eOIOQ1xU5gRjVsWY9Jf-UXJrWuVeTkCvVFfB8fQ4oBlZAMB_25EjeQRAgiC9VazWEvZYp-hhOt_gcQpuwh7kkadnmj6hlE2gtFdtfyj36apN66DG0euSvQdmbkoY/s320/bubble-2023-ichiro2.jpg" width="231" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2002 Upper Deck #123</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ichiro</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> looks like he just took a shot to the groin... but the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">photo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">well-cropped</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and all body parts are intact, so no complaints here.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1A-mAG90QqUXYLvnslgVGMZbLePAb_41314KeIgNDuLSPh9fornKxqhdb2xsjLqq0Y_FX6RF49xZ9jZpftAa-S-dto6D580p-_qdfIgl66wNcZV_BO1SiNkKfk95gVwW0yha_jMvsXqUV8E28Ix6LvpohqVZ8Cm0jYTiukxzKfBWO7c_u5SqYYbs3Pg/s1831/bubble-2023-ichiro3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1831" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1A-mAG90QqUXYLvnslgVGMZbLePAb_41314KeIgNDuLSPh9fornKxqhdb2xsjLqq0Y_FX6RF49xZ9jZpftAa-S-dto6D580p-_qdfIgl66wNcZV_BO1SiNkKfk95gVwW0yha_jMvsXqUV8E28Ix6LvpohqVZ8Cm0jYTiukxzKfBWO7c_u5SqYYbs3Pg/s320/bubble-2023-ichiro3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2022 Stadium Club Box Topper #184</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This might look like your </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">standard sized base card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but it's actually an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">oversized box topper</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collectors</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> might frown upon these, but I embrace them.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">next two cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> are a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pair</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">die-cut</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nomo's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">90's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that look way cooler in person...</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCDWU9ekVnbCZRiPBeMFQi0NC3yqBdHIUg0KPhbOxW3KSS2TGWnKhAB5XUfqQ2zYIg3LKvO70p6crpStT7PqJu3GtpSZYJUIDhQjaJ-7lu3hilMwzDOz7vMVDqDNFkSlpsNaNdLzXbzJHZVuFOD6E6ZfYvhAscB4G4LspeHd7GmTsvGyYrkd1khuU5Ww/s1025/tmv-2023-xmas-nomo1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="725" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBCDWU9ekVnbCZRiPBeMFQi0NC3yqBdHIUg0KPhbOxW3KSS2TGWnKhAB5XUfqQ2zYIg3LKvO70p6crpStT7PqJu3GtpSZYJUIDhQjaJ-7lu3hilMwzDOz7vMVDqDNFkSlpsNaNdLzXbzJHZVuFOD6E6ZfYvhAscB4G4LspeHd7GmTsvGyYrkd1khuU5Ww/w141-h200/tmv-2023-xmas-nomo1.jpg" width="141" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEbyIqnf93j6qyuhtmXs3OWzOLHmZE_dz89TULgI5VIHHJEZgPncR-AAbBFnKYWsufKuX8XETRdVh30tmnTQG_9UK_0Fi8At18o-YD8tzQXYUFg99sEqaOUIlecE7JTgwe8Ou7c339YD26rs_0EBZ_vYIkEc14eTEBHdBDIs68g2sEbLH3wzXp64xeg8/s1025/tmv-2023-xmas-nomo1b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1025" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghEbyIqnf93j6qyuhtmXs3OWzOLHmZE_dz89TULgI5VIHHJEZgPncR-AAbBFnKYWsufKuX8XETRdVh30tmnTQG_9UK_0Fi8At18o-YD8tzQXYUFg99sEqaOUIlecE7JTgwe8Ou7c339YD26rs_0EBZ_vYIkEc14eTEBHdBDIs68g2sEbLH3wzXp64xeg8/w200-h143/tmv-2023-xmas-nomo1b.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1997 Pacific Crown Collection Fireworks Diecuts #FW-16</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> combines </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">jagged edges</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">colorful foil </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">(similar to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">90's Fleer Metal</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">) to produce a really </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">attractive card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Plus this was produced in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">90's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... which means they were reasonably </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">tough pulls</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">72</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mpg29d_GMbnAxo2bP7-WOTkD1h1CxAPS1IbZWNRSFl_Bj-6p-Le1hDLNCMJq5yueeNzSEmGw9U-YtaBbdJDNobD9qpFi0Jhi0YjeQAEOwmXUVjabE_Ktiw_Thbqiu3N_Kx2qgNYigr_rwy6u5EIRstbj0XSrrSSEgaKDQ_Jgr19wbapXueJHFGzgkT0/s1050/tmv-2023-xmas-nomo2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="759" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0mpg29d_GMbnAxo2bP7-WOTkD1h1CxAPS1IbZWNRSFl_Bj-6p-Le1hDLNCMJq5yueeNzSEmGw9U-YtaBbdJDNobD9qpFi0Jhi0YjeQAEOwmXUVjabE_Ktiw_Thbqiu3N_Kx2qgNYigr_rwy6u5EIRstbj0XSrrSSEgaKDQ_Jgr19wbapXueJHFGzgkT0/w144-h200/tmv-2023-xmas-nomo2.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWtVIu9PZOBDlnza_MnVFmV_5YOAQaE3E3rcA_pcTTD-JO8Pi6_lR2v4m7mYWMvmS5XE89nUvXVyk1WSAZCRasi5SLaMKQ8-X952wKsHVuzfRQcFnEwQnXmUFlSEYQUG8III2LDM08myxUbuSMj2k_Zw0cyjIxhZN5tSIuUpHoAPrRx4u2TFT0bYuLQw/s1050/tmv-2023-xmas-nomo2b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="759" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWtVIu9PZOBDlnza_MnVFmV_5YOAQaE3E3rcA_pcTTD-JO8Pi6_lR2v4m7mYWMvmS5XE89nUvXVyk1WSAZCRasi5SLaMKQ8-X952wKsHVuzfRQcFnEwQnXmUFlSEYQUG8III2LDM08myxUbuSMj2k_Zw0cyjIxhZN5tSIuUpHoAPrRx4u2TFT0bYuLQw/w144-h200/tmv-2023-xmas-nomo2b.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1996 Select Claim to Fame #10</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Here's another cool </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">die-cut insert</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">90's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. It references </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nomo's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">stellar rookie season</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and the fact that he was the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">starting pitcher</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">MLB All-Star Game</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. But personally... I feel like his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">claim to fame</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is the fact that he </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">paved the way</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for other </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">NPB</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">players</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> like </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ichiro</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ohtani</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to cross the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Pacific Ocean</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and play in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">MLB</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">final card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for today is this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">memorabilia card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nomo's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">teammate</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that was also part of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bob's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">care package</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eBgBDlpWPBb9iZy4GswOXd4FJl3uIiY4l9AV_ZmPA-2ySmQCu4444FqgQxA2NX3vXWw4om2mbEoIxbPJl4Ln51lUGPEnYvTRhLr_BVN6Y2XT7QQ2l3F41rFa4cWbWDq9G0l6kyJ4bJa9e9vOTvPBOgdO88W5-K9X2u_legvaRkYHLcZc195eu3GYAxM/s1025/ishii9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1025" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9eBgBDlpWPBb9iZy4GswOXd4FJl3uIiY4l9AV_ZmPA-2ySmQCu4444FqgQxA2NX3vXWw4om2mbEoIxbPJl4Ln51lUGPEnYvTRhLr_BVN6Y2XT7QQ2l3F41rFa4cWbWDq9G0l6kyJ4bJa9e9vOTvPBOgdO88W5-K9X2u_legvaRkYHLcZc195eu3GYAxM/s320/ishii9.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2005 Donruss Champions Impressions Materials #141</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kaz Ishii</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">starting pitcher</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dodgers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2002</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2004</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Thank you</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bob</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nick</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Gregory</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">generations</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">additions</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Japanese</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">player collections</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">!</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">And </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">thank you</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to those of you who stuck around to find out whether or not I accomplished my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Saturday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">goal</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. <i> I didn't.</i> There are still about </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">20</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I need to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">scan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that are sitting on my desk... and I wasn't able to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">finish writing this post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> until this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">morning</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Sunday</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">). That being said... I made a step in the right direction and </span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cleaned up some clutter</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Sunday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-72696314197308429472024-03-01T16:00:00.000-08:002024-03-01T16:00:00.132-08:00Time Heals<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I've written a few posts about </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mama Fuji </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">and the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">positive influence</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and impact she had on me, my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">siblings</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">father</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. She was he most </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">generous</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">caring</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> person in my life and I was truly devastated when she </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">passed away</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> nearly </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">five years ago</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Thankfully... </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">time</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> has a way of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">healing</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the heart (at least for me). That doesn't mean that every now and then, I don't have my moments where I reminisce and shed some tears. It still happens. It just happens on a less frequent basis.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">There weren't any tears this morning, but I've been thinking about my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">mom</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> all week as today is her </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">special day</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. In honor or my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">mom's eighty-ninth birthday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I pulled out a few </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> featuring </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">athletes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> who wore </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">89</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on their </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">jerseys</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3CKe-gaZg-RWqAgYHC3P8tjVsZS23O4XRQ493q74g8sAHiV7VRcfzDpN1qIkPNx31eCY2QOAZUOnjyIZ7hBdPxu4GDpz83arUaKELbPL0fDcn_Ko4EuEn8qil5A5BgzdrwfCBz7H_FgiSGTzGEdkPb-XHRh66tNjimZZ4-Ko3wYvKDx1bLCqSRBt8ts/s1050/mom-89-dryer2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="762" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3CKe-gaZg-RWqAgYHC3P8tjVsZS23O4XRQ493q74g8sAHiV7VRcfzDpN1qIkPNx31eCY2QOAZUOnjyIZ7hBdPxu4GDpz83arUaKELbPL0fDcn_Ko4EuEn8qil5A5BgzdrwfCBz7H_FgiSGTzGEdkPb-XHRh66tNjimZZ4-Ko3wYvKDx1bLCqSRBt8ts/s320/mom-89-dryer2.jpg" width="232" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1977 Topps #513</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">There's a pretty good chance that back in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">mid</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">80's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mama Fuji </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">and I sat in front of the television together with </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dryer</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on the screen as </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Officer Hunter</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">. There's even a better chance that we saw him on </span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Cheers</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoRqGXzo1pCbYJct593By_QrykAAyLMe8-a-znz7LOWgHfy_dYW0XYLBNgS6zaZdYrFYpAxaw1ljAyqWizlyVxKRsp7gUzxF7tJgYuBjYgQAU6l3bXONlUk9DsCY0xIQPjpgikovNB0CdH2XsunB3ZaHh_RigdeY9bACPxX_N0ZGKbogNj0QvJrVNPZE/s1050/mom-89-marchetti.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="764" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoRqGXzo1pCbYJct593By_QrykAAyLMe8-a-znz7LOWgHfy_dYW0XYLBNgS6zaZdYrFYpAxaw1ljAyqWizlyVxKRsp7gUzxF7tJgYuBjYgQAU6l3bXONlUk9DsCY0xIQPjpgikovNB0CdH2XsunB3ZaHh_RigdeY9bACPxX_N0ZGKbogNj0QvJrVNPZE/s320/mom-89-marchetti.jpg" width="233" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1958 Topps #16</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Marchetti's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">career</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was over before I was born, so I never got to watch him play. However my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">parents</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> attended several </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Green Bay Packers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">games</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> at </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Milwaukee County Stadium</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> back in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">late</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">50's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, so there's a chance she got to see him play in person when the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Colts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> came to town.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtAD2cH1q7K12RwlJFICLjbNYr6muHxrXWGh1Xlvq6-pCwn-GXKEMMldn4PpFGIaTBjGrjjrPUZA6OnEceqQrLgVII8mk7drLJgBIxMsbv8TXJZan8ZIz_s9Ly6rj-mbmkwVJhgUVYNIkQYPrI6iGuNZGkwB8ys3W273XaDUmvDrHLvjlcTky_38GYb0/s625/blades.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtAD2cH1q7K12RwlJFICLjbNYr6muHxrXWGh1Xlvq6-pCwn-GXKEMMldn4PpFGIaTBjGrjjrPUZA6OnEceqQrLgVII8mk7drLJgBIxMsbv8TXJZan8ZIz_s9Ly6rj-mbmkwVJhgUVYNIkQYPrI6iGuNZGkwB8ys3W273XaDUmvDrHLvjlcTky_38GYb0/s320/blades.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1995 Classic Pro Line Autograph #NNO</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">When my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">parents</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> migrated to the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bay Area</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">early</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">70's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, they became </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">San Francisco 49er</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">fans</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Blades</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> played for </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Seattle</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1988</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1998</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but back then the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Seahawks</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were part of the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">AFC West</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. He faced the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">49ers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">twice</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but only had </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three receptions</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Although I still watched some </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">49er</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">games</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with my family in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">late</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">80's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">90's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... it wasn't nearly as often as when I was little. So it's not likely we watched these games together.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD-Z_qF1Gf_BjHTxJ03ViVkE1KJ9CzkCveR7JMJ8QJ1lzgktlIke5UJJlQ8F1J3OKsXx3k9qQg2FNsKU8vjrpqLqYVU5A_D64LOhE1ej8u0EUN5rIrIDPbKAsi5E0dOTR4o29T9DLB3uyxfa1ioYGE51Yr_NafM2xx-oPa1MDrmfmJGPINC4Cu_uHasE/s631/jones9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD-Z_qF1Gf_BjHTxJ03ViVkE1KJ9CzkCveR7JMJ8QJ1lzgktlIke5UJJlQ8F1J3OKsXx3k9qQg2FNsKU8vjrpqLqYVU5A_D64LOhE1ej8u0EUN5rIrIDPbKAsi5E0dOTR4o29T9DLB3uyxfa1ioYGE51Yr_NafM2xx-oPa1MDrmfmJGPINC4Cu_uHasE/s320/jones9.jpg" width="228" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2009 Certified Fabric of the Game DC Jersey Number Signatures #63</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Although my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">parents' </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">49er</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> fanfare</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> dipped when they moved to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Las Vegas</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">late</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">90's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, they still would watch them play if they were on the television. This is especially true if they were playing the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Packers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> or </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Raiders</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two teams</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Jones</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> played for during his career. Can't say for certain if my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">mom</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> ever got a chance to see him play though.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVh-ZL4HZNkQpkuTg0hfun5by4lo7n6G59rKgMm0pAPWxtQZWOzcV_vZZuiiHjM-8W1skSxuM2ZqTIPGtw9STmDRAMd7FWeJu5tkMHrNuaIofs0nFqwLnxHDRg3-RhXvkBvDOyiQxH0KZFId25WaNGOECSRY3QTOqcZMIEglRtLWsIYDjeeE-H9vSatDE/s1050/mom-89-mogilny.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="755" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVh-ZL4HZNkQpkuTg0hfun5by4lo7n6G59rKgMm0pAPWxtQZWOzcV_vZZuiiHjM-8W1skSxuM2ZqTIPGtw9STmDRAMd7FWeJu5tkMHrNuaIofs0nFqwLnxHDRg3-RhXvkBvDOyiQxH0KZFId25WaNGOECSRY3QTOqcZMIEglRtLWsIYDjeeE-H9vSatDE/s320/mom-89-mogilny.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1990-91 O-Pee-Chee Premier #75</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I am </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">100%</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> certain though that she </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">never watched</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mogilny</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> play. Even when the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Sharks</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">started playing</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1991</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Team Teal</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was soaring in popularity, my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">mom</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> had </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">little interest</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in them. That's why I was so surprised to see her rooting for the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Las Vegas Knights</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I remember her checking the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box scores</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><i>Las Vegas Review-Journal</i></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> when I was there visiting. I guess it helps that the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Knights</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">awesome</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> during their </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">inaugural season</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. They'd end up reaching the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Stanley Cup Finals</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> before losing to the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Washington Capitols</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">next season</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> they were eliminated by the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">San Jose Sharks</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first round</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">playoffs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. But they </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">shut out</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Anaheim Ducks</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on her </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">birthday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that year... and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">beat</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Calgary Flames</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">night</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> before she </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">passed away</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I never asked my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">dad</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> about the specific details of that morning, but it wouldn't surprise me if one of the last things she did was check the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box score</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from that </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">game</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy birthday </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mom</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">! Hope you're enjoying your </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">special day</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dad</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Sorry to report that your </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Knights</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> are off </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">tonight</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but they are having a pretty </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">decent season</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Love</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">miss</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> you!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Friday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-24418181952493882292024-02-24T15:00:00.000-08:002024-02-24T15:00:00.131-08:00One of Those Perfect Days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHLTnf2gI807YQ34mnhtiI-c-Xg26Lp0Kcxjh7jbl1b2UI9J2DgglxIMdIhwq2LZwHwvlFngeHHCp1j1cx8i0GPyfvQmBYKLm0eDty1JrS-J_rBLJ_YBrfMSUJesJvsU9ozthKPxWBZ7Q4Xz_zjPe5cpGvGXnyB8ZY4htO7UhGPIpjNBM1yBzkOO-KRc/s1025/zippy-2023-september-pack2-fox.jpg" style="font-family: Quicksand; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="728" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHLTnf2gI807YQ34mnhtiI-c-Xg26Lp0Kcxjh7jbl1b2UI9J2DgglxIMdIhwq2LZwHwvlFngeHHCp1j1cx8i0GPyfvQmBYKLm0eDty1JrS-J_rBLJ_YBrfMSUJesJvsU9ozthKPxWBZ7Q4Xz_zjPe5cpGvGXnyB8ZY4htO7UhGPIpjNBM1yBzkOO-KRc/w284-h400/zippy-2023-september-pack2-fox.jpg" width="284" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This past week I've been on my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">February</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">break</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and the plan was to spend several hours each day doing </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hobby related stuff</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> like </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sorting cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">working on</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> sets</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, opening </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">care packages</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, reading </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blog posts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and writing a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> or two myself. Gotta admit, with all of the other things going on this week... I was pleasantly surprised that I was able to stick to the plan.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'm not nearly caught up on </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sorting cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Honestly that's a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">never-ending project</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. And there will always be </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sets</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to build.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">As for </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">care packages</span><span style="color: #999999;">, I still have </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">two large flat-rate boxes</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">four</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">PWE's</span><span style="color: #999999;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">John</span><span style="color: #999999;"> (@ </span><a href="https://johnnnystradingspot.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="color: red;">Johnny's Trading Spot</span></b></i></a><span style="color: #999999;">), a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">medium size box</span><span style="color: #999999;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Chris</span><span style="color: #999999;"> (@ </span><a href="https://thepedestriancollector.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: red;">The Collector</span></i></b></a><span style="color: #999999;">), </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">two padded envelopes</span><span style="color: #999999;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Kenny</span><span style="color: #999999;"> (@ </span><a href="https://cervinupcards.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: red;">Torren' Up Cards</span></i></b></a><span style="color: #999999;">), a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">padded envelope</span><span style="color: #999999;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Eric</span><span style="color: #999999;"> (@ </span><a href="https://thesnortingbull.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: red;">The Snorting Bull</span></i></b></a><span style="color: #999999;">), and </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">PWE's</span><span style="color: #999999;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Kevin</span><span style="color: #999999;"> (@ </span><a href="https://thediamondking.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: red;">The Diamond King</span></i></b></a><span style="color: #999999;">), </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Gavin</span><span style="color: #999999;"> (@ </span><a href="https://baseballcardbreakdown.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: red;">Baseball Card Breakdown</span></i></b></a><span style="color: #999999;">), and </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Tom</span><span style="color: #999999;"> (@ </span><a href="https://angelsinorder.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: red;">The Angels, In Order</span></i></b></a><span style="color: #999999;">). Plus I still haven't finished </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">reviewing items</span><span style="color: #999999;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Woody</span><span style="color: #999999;"> (@ </span><a href="https://www.sportscardforum.com/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: red;">Sports Card Forum</span></i></b></a><span style="color: #999999;">) and </span><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Reader X</span></i></b><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">apologize</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to everyone above for the delay. It's one of those things I prefer not to rush... because I want to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">enjoy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">organize</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">contents</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of each package, while also writing a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">thoughtful post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for each. In a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">perfect world</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">posts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> coincide with something currently going on within </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sports</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> or the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hobby</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">Well... </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">today</span><span style="color: #999999;"> is </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><b><i>one of those perfect days</i></b></span><span style="color: #999999;">. It's </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">sunny</span><span style="color: #999999;"> outside. It's </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cool</span><span style="color: #999999;">, but </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">not freezing cold</span><span style="color: #999999;">. And I had the opportunity to walk around a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">card show</span><span style="color: #999999;">. But that's a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">post</span><span style="color: #999999;"> for another day. Today's post follows up one of those </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">feel good hobby stories</span><span style="color: #999999;"> written by one of our very own: </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Zippy Zappy</span><span style="color: #999999;"> over @ </span><a href="https://cervinupcards.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: red;">Torren' Up Cards</span></i></b></a><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">It would be hard to pinpoint what he's better known for: his </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Zippy Zappings</span><span style="color: #999999;"> or his very impressive </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Luis Torrens PC</span><span style="color: #999999;">. Well I won't spoil anything, but he made a pretty </span><a href="https://cervinupcards.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-fond-farewell-to-supercollection.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">big announcement</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> over on his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">blog yesterday</span><span style="color: #999999;">. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, please </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">stop reading this post</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and click</span><span style="color: red;"> <a href="https://cervinupcards.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-fond-farewell-to-supercollection.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a></span><span style="color: #999999;">. You won't be disappointed.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><i>Pretty awesome, right?</i> I'm not surprised. Pretty sure anyone who is familiar with him... is familiar with his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">generosity</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I've been </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">zapped</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> by him on </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">several occasions</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. As mentioned above, I've been sitting on </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two padded envelopes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from him. One arrived in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">September</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and the other in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">December</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Yesterday afternoon</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I opened up both.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Let's start with the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box topper</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first package</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. He included a nice </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">handwritten note</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and this very cool </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">postcard</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOo_BhX726S4-nbdZ5Uh3DmmtkBohNIH31qu6lWQm8zTe_X2nf66WPKC1O_r7wVFcCm7KUS6ERniXpcFXMei8saLXY2v6q9j4cnqOlbPQArdNYVFWSXJSjjX_PrcsTAPbfZXArClT6fgvlF9Rmh78wiIZbrSm_lfmqmmKeDFAq8qZGCOWYTytvxCkOEU/s1700/zippy-2023-september-postcard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1700" data-original-width="1140" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSOo_BhX726S4-nbdZ5Uh3DmmtkBohNIH31qu6lWQm8zTe_X2nf66WPKC1O_r7wVFcCm7KUS6ERniXpcFXMei8saLXY2v6q9j4cnqOlbPQArdNYVFWSXJSjjX_PrcsTAPbfZXArClT6fgvlF9Rmh78wiIZbrSm_lfmqmmKeDFAq8qZGCOWYTytvxCkOEU/s320/zippy-2023-september-postcard.jpg" width="215" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Next Manga Awards Postcard</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">In regards to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">manga</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I'm pretty much a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">newbie</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but it is something I've had around me since my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">childhood</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. When I was a kid, my parents would go up to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">San Francisco's Japantown</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> a few times a year and one of my favorite stops was </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kinokuniya</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> which is a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">large bookstore</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I'd plop myself down in front of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">manga books</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">magazines</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and keep myself entertained without being able to read a single word.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">This </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">postcard</span><span style="color: #999999;"> is somehow related to the </span><a href="https://tsugimanga.jp/en/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Next Manga Awards</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> which honors the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">best print</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">web manga</span><span style="color: #999999;"> titles each year. The two characters featured are from the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">manga</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><i><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoking_Behind_the_Supermarket_with_You" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You</span></a></b></i><span style="color: #999999;">. According to their </span><a href="https://tsugimanga.jp/en/winner/2022/web.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">website</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">, it won </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">first place</span><span style="color: #999999;"> for top </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">web manga</span><span style="color: #999999;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">2022</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Now if you're not familiar with a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Zippy Zapping</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kenny</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> creates his own packs using old wrappers which look like these:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqcF8fPpUHd9TX3zrvXzgsI8JxoPcY2Fr4Kvnk-FNwFurWCCTpykOO2fcMrJdfbUGsze_tMVsbIbz4A6dLdG604MX8IVPUeYGiezT10AxqQDXSI101JH_Te3YPvlm_8C6_SVdUHe2FzQmrGYqTRh7hAJPuWrWAwzXhnJ7f83a8rhyphenhypheno46rlv0N6zIOPzU/s1324/zippy-2023-september-packs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1324" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqcF8fPpUHd9TX3zrvXzgsI8JxoPcY2Fr4Kvnk-FNwFurWCCTpykOO2fcMrJdfbUGsze_tMVsbIbz4A6dLdG604MX8IVPUeYGiezT10AxqQDXSI101JH_Te3YPvlm_8C6_SVdUHe2FzQmrGYqTRh7hAJPuWrWAwzXhnJ7f83a8rhyphenhypheno46rlv0N6zIOPzU/s320/zippy-2023-september-packs.jpg" width="290" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">In an effort to keep this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> reasonable in length, here are the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">highlights</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from each </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pack</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Pack #1</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">2013 Bowman Chrome Mini Lot</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpGicrmmVrAn6sIuaaoki01i4Gcnv6j6mt0yq2nWt600cM_lARBjnAmi2zoKr-Z9T9SHYGC1o1my4f0Qo6sxxQYoZnBbfCvkJ_Q06bhwDK4qcTIZ42TVQ9V2Z5C0cWYrWenWOcbhtBQ1UXQZPBOETfzdQCjOs_rGuXPxJA1DIGbSeMx7PzhbM2w_x3XU/s825/zippy-2023-september-pack1-judge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="582" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzpGicrmmVrAn6sIuaaoki01i4Gcnv6j6mt0yq2nWt600cM_lARBjnAmi2zoKr-Z9T9SHYGC1o1my4f0Qo6sxxQYoZnBbfCvkJ_Q06bhwDK4qcTIZ42TVQ9V2Z5C0cWYrWenWOcbhtBQ1UXQZPBOETfzdQCjOs_rGuXPxJA1DIGbSeMx7PzhbM2w_x3XU/s320/zippy-2023-september-pack1-judge.jpg" width="226" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2013 Bowman Chrome Mini #311</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first pack</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> contained a bunch of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">New York Yankees</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">prospects</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2013 Bowman Chrome Mini</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Aaron Judge</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> stood out. I knew he had </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from a few years before his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">r</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">ookie card</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">year</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but had no idea they dated all the way back to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2013</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Holy cow this is a very </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">nice addition</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collection</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Pack #2</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">BBM Baseball</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP25fREYw6Cb7qxZDlvIzOyE3s-DpLr7d2YVSBQJjs9QjfhfqG1i8LI_x9W2S_atiHLaCl9K6Jk3DqCzCkiRjnUWLKRLfnBGrHmRUhXNlmI5v_XUpxTU6lyCQXprp74fdbVTfevlCCJPk_bGlnUc3eIpzSN7yEn777YiGaTtt_l-xbrsIofYrFkzq6nzI/s1025/zippy-2023-september-pack2-fujita.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="722" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP25fREYw6Cb7qxZDlvIzOyE3s-DpLr7d2YVSBQJjs9QjfhfqG1i8LI_x9W2S_atiHLaCl9K6Jk3DqCzCkiRjnUWLKRLfnBGrHmRUhXNlmI5v_XUpxTU6lyCQXprp74fdbVTfevlCCJPk_bGlnUc3eIpzSN7yEn777YiGaTtt_l-xbrsIofYrFkzq6nzI/w141-h200/zippy-2023-september-pack2-fujita.jpg" width="141" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHLTnf2gI807YQ34mnhtiI-c-Xg26Lp0Kcxjh7jbl1b2UI9J2DgglxIMdIhwq2LZwHwvlFngeHHCp1j1cx8i0GPyfvQmBYKLm0eDty1JrS-J_rBLJ_YBrfMSUJesJvsU9ozthKPxWBZ7Q4Xz_zjPe5cpGvGXnyB8ZY4htO7UhGPIpjNBM1yBzkOO-KRc/s1025/zippy-2023-september-pack2-fox.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="728" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHLTnf2gI807YQ34mnhtiI-c-Xg26Lp0Kcxjh7jbl1b2UI9J2DgglxIMdIhwq2LZwHwvlFngeHHCp1j1cx8i0GPyfvQmBYKLm0eDty1JrS-J_rBLJ_YBrfMSUJesJvsU9ozthKPxWBZ7Q4Xz_zjPe5cpGvGXnyB8ZY4htO7UhGPIpjNBM1yBzkOO-KRc/w142-h200/zippy-2023-september-pack2-fox.jpg" width="142" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zNd3k7tQMww7Jb4DNoJaOqE5uZvdXPQlbWC2CM_PQiIXISJJ9HxCQdW4GzLARK55_f1gNZG6mOHbvFFH2IXPlRO834JTUQUNYvJLQPbxAV-fLTWpTsFgr6BMr0VRa8Z87scmt3yjOL1ul6yBh0b8oj6SsOiSsCZ1ZCoV1g2AjX0tof-d5SZCC7rR-Qc/s1025/zippy-2023-september-pack2-shino.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="724" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5zNd3k7tQMww7Jb4DNoJaOqE5uZvdXPQlbWC2CM_PQiIXISJJ9HxCQdW4GzLARK55_f1gNZG6mOHbvFFH2IXPlRO834JTUQUNYvJLQPbxAV-fLTWpTsFgr6BMr0VRa8Z87scmt3yjOL1ul6yBh0b8oj6SsOiSsCZ1ZCoV1g2AjX0tof-d5SZCC7rR-Qc/w141-h200/zippy-2023-september-pack2-shino.jpg" width="141" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2017 BBM 2nd Version First Pitch #FP03</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2019 BBM 2nd Version First Pitch #FP05</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2019 BBM Dancing Heroine #77</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">next pack</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> featured a handful of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">BBM</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. And it wouldn't be a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">proper zapping</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> without some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">beautiful ladies</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Not sure which one is my favorite. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">First pitch cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> are always cool, but who doesn't love </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball cheerleaders</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3e3P8882aLk_c8U7KGU-hDYd8yjWasOQbbi5geXSwiDfvUUDr9OelPeh5e3BnpNQ6hd9pOUrsj1j82DSUuzfqcxfaKNmD6JI1i_XtsGKy9BX1NxQaBd6F5pgze2YX7dIG61bs8DxyMErT7MUVMFsUsSxPl1T0eyRx6WwhQI4pb0gucLU1zwl5pcT02Y/s1025/zippy-2023-september-pack2-tanaka1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="730" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM3e3P8882aLk_c8U7KGU-hDYd8yjWasOQbbi5geXSwiDfvUUDr9OelPeh5e3BnpNQ6hd9pOUrsj1j82DSUuzfqcxfaKNmD6JI1i_XtsGKy9BX1NxQaBd6F5pgze2YX7dIG61bs8DxyMErT7MUVMFsUsSxPl1T0eyRx6WwhQI4pb0gucLU1zwl5pcT02Y/w143-h200/zippy-2023-september-pack2-tanaka1.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmcz-V8eQwGK42hMF73Chvosyco-ZkwZzJMes77PpNZ4m4x9V78eNM7f7wnA-vd2ByqMHwfdGJVe-eONCihhyphenhyphenNrfmaM01ZuvRBGaWkjZEP0Ctaua3p9XgqPfwtxA1vf8lBsMMYcTu6AANvK_DqUvd5EVxQKKVlin9d6dEjtAcz3sQ-Pv1mXlrp0e0oQc/s1025/zippy-2023-september-pack2-tanaka2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="729" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmcz-V8eQwGK42hMF73Chvosyco-ZkwZzJMes77PpNZ4m4x9V78eNM7f7wnA-vd2ByqMHwfdGJVe-eONCihhyphenhyphenNrfmaM01ZuvRBGaWkjZEP0Ctaua3p9XgqPfwtxA1vf8lBsMMYcTu6AANvK_DqUvd5EVxQKKVlin9d6dEjtAcz3sQ-Pv1mXlrp0e0oQc/w143-h200/zippy-2023-september-pack2-tanaka2.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePvmfo6iE88ZEOYDRhYRKYplqjN6zkEduUCbA4FNWoi-DStlBqpU3Rhz83Psq5wcV0pfViHLgn2Q3X_jDkcMBqSU23e5OuzqshkIR64e-QXELgxSYYsxOv-7J5mQSJm2j1al6n81mNVx4Ddg6D9g1yqIUXMfYnBoi3looSkl_JRBBpgFoATK2WEbDamo/s1025/zippy-2023-september-pack2-tanaka3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="738" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePvmfo6iE88ZEOYDRhYRKYplqjN6zkEduUCbA4FNWoi-DStlBqpU3Rhz83Psq5wcV0pfViHLgn2Q3X_jDkcMBqSU23e5OuzqshkIR64e-QXELgxSYYsxOv-7J5mQSJm2j1al6n81mNVx4Ddg6D9g1yqIUXMfYnBoi3looSkl_JRBBpgFoATK2WEbDamo/w144-h200/zippy-2023-september-pack2-tanaka3.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2009 BBM Touch The Game Gold Signature #PS05</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2010 BBM 1st Version Silver Signature #258</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2012 BBM 1st Version Gold Signature #112</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">There were also </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three </span><span style="color: red; font-family: Quicksand;">Masahiro Tanaka Japanese</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> parallels</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pack</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The one on the far right is numbered out of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">100</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycHUZLmO5ttrKrICT90BXRaszrRkuG9O5fb943HIz_7v9SIi7726ckjHZke0AxW5XbAMs8pvwTOM_xuyTMla-OUUNKYbC-a_32U87aYz8i3-kH4kcn-pkHK9LKn9s3O-QU64EK12sgjrcYF2Pza7-1ZOOKjksldLHkO7w8_EzeLeW0Z6Fn2qUub3l8J0/s1025/zippy-2023-september-pack2-tanaka3b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="731" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycHUZLmO5ttrKrICT90BXRaszrRkuG9O5fb943HIz_7v9SIi7726ckjHZke0AxW5XbAMs8pvwTOM_xuyTMla-OUUNKYbC-a_32U87aYz8i3-kH4kcn-pkHK9LKn9s3O-QU64EK12sgjrcYF2Pza7-1ZOOKjksldLHkO7w8_EzeLeW0Z6Fn2qUub3l8J0/s320/zippy-2023-september-pack2-tanaka3b.jpg" width="228" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2012 BBM 1st Version Gold Signature #112 (#'d 061/100)</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Another </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">huge addition</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card collection</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Pack #3</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Four Ladies</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;"> & </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">The Big Unit</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrf7F_nHu8aQSONKjBSVIetezFm_Y4Cnn2hd_Grk6M2WDbmNW982oJmPFyqptjhTGO9787jSQtMiJEppJhlyGz2XxNAj609Ouum2NKPqrpY7x-1MpIcv6ZFJ9zyh5JBiwjyD4WKe7ajGfFKUMgUOEUZrPHOr_xIJrh3ID70nmRQkGvyfbX4rN4lNNBzTU/s2050/zippy-2023-september-pack3-nwsl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2050" data-original-width="1467" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrf7F_nHu8aQSONKjBSVIetezFm_Y4Cnn2hd_Grk6M2WDbmNW982oJmPFyqptjhTGO9787jSQtMiJEppJhlyGz2XxNAj609Ouum2NKPqrpY7x-1MpIcv6ZFJ9zyh5JBiwjyD4WKe7ajGfFKUMgUOEUZrPHOr_xIJrh3ID70nmRQkGvyfbX4rN4lNNBzTU/w286-h400/zippy-2023-september-pack3-nwsl.jpg" width="286" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2021 Parkside NWSL #70, 130, 159, & 194</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">Yup. More </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">ladies</span><span style="color: #999999;">. This time they're all </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Japanese</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">women</span><span style="color: #999999;"> playing in our very own </span><a href="https://www.nwslsoccer.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">National Women's Soccer League</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">. But the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">coolest card</span><span style="color: #999999;"> in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">pack</span><span style="color: #999999;"> was this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">baseball card</span><span style="color: #999999;">:</span></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPoiz8taJcvUdJ0-IE22n2mlE9XGVBMwqvPbt80_Rawi41OKg0jLP8vWPYhDdu9XkT4WO_CGS4VWEzt16YJqlhHvf8f5vFXW-jG07dPuWYjq9wEMEsmaDGzI37ZJu9l-a53d8v49w34hIGI_Opy-dru_hRWB5J4NNcqvwpZldWGTOMiQ40wTTok3VXn8/s1025/zippy-2023-september-pack3-johnson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="737" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPoiz8taJcvUdJ0-IE22n2mlE9XGVBMwqvPbt80_Rawi41OKg0jLP8vWPYhDdu9XkT4WO_CGS4VWEzt16YJqlhHvf8f5vFXW-jG07dPuWYjq9wEMEsmaDGzI37ZJu9l-a53d8v49w34hIGI_Opy-dru_hRWB5J4NNcqvwpZldWGTOMiQ40wTTok3VXn8/w144-h200/zippy-2023-september-pack3-johnson.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uPtNyMDKUNv35eAkumFrlfWgAB1Kn-pkH3K4gFuSGNXh6YDjwgggiXak1c6zlg0bbvMFK1wxeamaqQVVeRgzHDyk12daYx-EoRDF_0DXOKox4l49tMdg_2rqX7hEbHUWdAGyY8PE8Z_mir-r57-mtr3OYoivUl1vR3zoH4ooT-4XAn4ugbs7huGNx4s/s1025/zippy-2023-september-pack3-johnson2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1025" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uPtNyMDKUNv35eAkumFrlfWgAB1Kn-pkH3K4gFuSGNXh6YDjwgggiXak1c6zlg0bbvMFK1wxeamaqQVVeRgzHDyk12daYx-EoRDF_0DXOKox4l49tMdg_2rqX7hEbHUWdAGyY8PE8Z_mir-r57-mtr3OYoivUl1vR3zoH4ooT-4XAn4ugbs7huGNx4s/w200-h141/zippy-2023-september-pack3-johnson2.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2003 Topps Kanebo Japan Silver #15</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> looks like the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2002 Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">flagship</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but it was actually released in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Japan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> as either a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">food</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> or </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">store oddball issue</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. This particular </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Randy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">silver parallel</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">. </span><i><span style="color: #999999;">How cool is it to see one of his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999;"> with the text written in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Japanese</span><span style="color: #999999;"> on the back?</span></i></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Pack #4</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Star Wars Cards</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkUXx8xdOjfolV9eiA9XoTm-t6hiRVAMdOi2TpDylGdTCxlnG5IiEfAq1u-JPcGXqUTMxSxfKGoMyO_cajxO728kYOEHxVkBWkloKubVLmK9dGRrx5Hn9RTiqDKPHqrilJ9Yc-rn6SxqZjroFQBF0ujOqNyhlHsMTPRowKpp7o4qzziKH1JgOiGGZds8/s3103/zippy-2023-september-pack4-starwars.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="3103" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOkUXx8xdOjfolV9eiA9XoTm-t6hiRVAMdOi2TpDylGdTCxlnG5IiEfAq1u-JPcGXqUTMxSxfKGoMyO_cajxO728kYOEHxVkBWkloKubVLmK9dGRrx5Hn9RTiqDKPHqrilJ9Yc-rn6SxqZjroFQBF0ujOqNyhlHsMTPRowKpp7o4qzziKH1JgOiGGZds8/s320/zippy-2023-september-pack4-starwars.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">fourth pack</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was filled with </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Star Wars</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two movies</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">: </span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">The Force Awakens</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> and </span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Rogue One</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">. I picked a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">favorite</span><span style="color: #999999;"> from each:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYN5zeVCWVLmGPoVl6LARlk1n2u7M09Ycd_wA1uioC93WgA15TibgDgzwQa-M3GskyxCnnZcc8GRvT5G46ZvFQh4vaCHwtNuruhaTrLeCmz_hvWX6Dp7k_SEHwD7J3F2XzYt78HP0CznVjmtDMdKR5MXJymX7Uh5vGAUhmifQJWNYk6q9VFSGJW8bPag/s1025/zippy-2023-september-pack4-r2d2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="739" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYN5zeVCWVLmGPoVl6LARlk1n2u7M09Ycd_wA1uioC93WgA15TibgDgzwQa-M3GskyxCnnZcc8GRvT5G46ZvFQh4vaCHwtNuruhaTrLeCmz_hvWX6Dp7k_SEHwD7J3F2XzYt78HP0CznVjmtDMdKR5MXJymX7Uh5vGAUhmifQJWNYk6q9VFSGJW8bPag/w144-h200/zippy-2023-september-pack4-r2d2.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlj2pwn5odt9ZCfGleaWr8mgdQP-3Z0Ho1MZhLXWyYTCMvjZrSfVNDwzKdXsS0fGqoQy6mTzrSWz2_L-fUkRMqg4IrSwtYL-GEj79mSe3HWQ_lC8LqB_gBdGw63R3WoU23k0BuLYYpWPl5E3_YvY4Fob54faeJ1UkypYVdTr8jzsqoFkIaAwurQeK074I/s1025/zippy-2023-september-pack4-montage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="738" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlj2pwn5odt9ZCfGleaWr8mgdQP-3Z0Ho1MZhLXWyYTCMvjZrSfVNDwzKdXsS0fGqoQy6mTzrSWz2_L-fUkRMqg4IrSwtYL-GEj79mSe3HWQ_lC8LqB_gBdGw63R3WoU23k0BuLYYpWPl5E3_YvY4Fob54faeJ1UkypYVdTr8jzsqoFkIaAwurQeK074I/w144-h200/zippy-2023-september-pack4-montage.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2015 Topps SW: The Force Awakens Stickers #11</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2016 Topps SW: Rogue One Montage #NNO</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Pack #5</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">The Heavy Hitters</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">There were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">only three cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">final pack</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of them featured </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">signatures</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">heavy hitters</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmKashowomDkIvzL52b32wyMb-_HNRjXZYHmK5nFEqloepTJ5W1KWsQsL5-6qvoAfIuyFi2j7uVw2vI2Rql77ZWRNd8klg1v5uk15xVBcXaSynSKtafsz6nmzd4NJTrRHU8N2rZzp6fDbmy19sMEB1XR4JCSJDHRH6e163hKXg7dbZGSDl97svpEV58Q/s1275/zippy-2023-september-pack5-uno.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1275" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmKashowomDkIvzL52b32wyMb-_HNRjXZYHmK5nFEqloepTJ5W1KWsQsL5-6qvoAfIuyFi2j7uVw2vI2Rql77ZWRNd8klg1v5uk15xVBcXaSynSKtafsz6nmzd4NJTrRHU8N2rZzp6fDbmy19sMEB1XR4JCSJDHRH6e163hKXg7dbZGSDl97svpEV58Q/s320/zippy-2023-september-pack5-uno.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2020 Epoch Chunich Dragons Stars & Legends</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Legendary Signature #LS-MU (#'d 13/38)</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">I had never heard of </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Masaru Uno</span><span style="color: #999999;"> before seeing this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">card</span><span style="color: #999999;"> yesterday, but I stumbled across this </span><a href="https://japanball.com/articles-features/japanese-baseball-historical-profiles/npb-300-home-run-club-countdown/33-masaru-uno/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">article</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> which stated he's part of the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">NPB 300 Home Run Club</span><span style="color: #999999;">. Back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">2020</span><span style="color: #999999;"> when the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">article</span><span style="color: #999999;"> was written, </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Uno</span><span style="color: #999999;"> was </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">33rd</span><span style="color: #999999;"> on the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">NPB</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">all-time home run list</span><span style="color: #999999;">. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Four years later</span><span style="color: #999999;">, he's slid down to </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">34th</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><i><span style="color: #999999;">Remember that </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">note</span><span style="color: #999999;"> from </span>Kenny<span style="color: #999999;"> that was next to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">postcard</span><span style="color: #999999;">?</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> He mentioned sending me an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">autograph</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">current </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">New York Yankees</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> captain</span><span style="color: #999999;"> as a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">thank you</span><span style="color: #999999;"> for some </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Henrik Lundqvist</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999;"> I had given him. Well, here it is:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUbNB4hF4KoNYssNfY3Wg7cYflGeMDGIx8nrp7anHcfXF0-3BJeDIYUOn-2zsgUVvB0eIrLOdesJaW5c1terJYEBiBqVmPmSrwIwJ6AorVFaBeTRWtvEyp_q-_KEL-X3bDPTULRNN4142u4HS-oRCtvH0T2m6mPdA9GwW5VZZYuRySgZzqHBYCydk0X8/s1025/zippy-2023-september-pack5-judge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="740" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUbNB4hF4KoNYssNfY3Wg7cYflGeMDGIx8nrp7anHcfXF0-3BJeDIYUOn-2zsgUVvB0eIrLOdesJaW5c1terJYEBiBqVmPmSrwIwJ6AorVFaBeTRWtvEyp_q-_KEL-X3bDPTULRNN4142u4HS-oRCtvH0T2m6mPdA9GwW5VZZYuRySgZzqHBYCydk0X8/s320/zippy-2023-september-pack5-judge.jpg" width="231" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2013 Prizm Draft Picks Silver Prizm Prospect Signatures #33</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Holy cow! The </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">New York Yankees</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> might be my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">least favorite team</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but that's never stopped me from </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collecting</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> their </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. And this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">biggie</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">And for the curious, here's the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">third</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">final card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pack</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeOpnGqV63TwP3QFuqJ4Wradv8j-KUpjNxLHhSyd_VI6suBSpfq30SMurWBdK8F0UTzWUSOHoXQRTS1sHBnbzGqXDWGRn9qCs9VgCCPZ-5uIpB7nzK0TMsyiSswbJBAhokTiSZUQB_W1FvjOar3Ev8gOYVOQNTVRgc3F8RJ2EzbMkvwz8FEoUsGSvIRk/s1050/zippy-2023-december-mystery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="755" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAeOpnGqV63TwP3QFuqJ4Wradv8j-KUpjNxLHhSyd_VI6suBSpfq30SMurWBdK8F0UTzWUSOHoXQRTS1sHBnbzGqXDWGRn9qCs9VgCCPZ-5uIpB7nzK0TMsyiSswbJBAhokTiSZUQB_W1FvjOar3Ev8gOYVOQNTVRgc3F8RJ2EzbMkvwz8FEoUsGSvIRk/w144-h200/zippy-2023-december-mystery.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dVlH3RJFOUWPTLK-GtRN-OfDYs59PQ6Ud_jZP5r8xg2sIPz04KDSvAEgcR5xy319c7L4i4nyG0SDdQHP7rvB27XOMtpTwwFoMvJzYckN-P_-wa4k7-5SzUGDMksxQu-mVrRWsnfOangzLnR8w64-Fy4LbLNeVoIjxEBxXjl5OMMICvNOmyMnjnvtjPU/s1050/zippy-2023-december-mystery2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="752" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dVlH3RJFOUWPTLK-GtRN-OfDYs59PQ6Ud_jZP5r8xg2sIPz04KDSvAEgcR5xy319c7L4i4nyG0SDdQHP7rvB27XOMtpTwwFoMvJzYckN-P_-wa4k7-5SzUGDMksxQu-mVrRWsnfOangzLnR8w64-Fy4LbLNeVoIjxEBxXjl5OMMICvNOmyMnjnvtjPU/w143-h200/zippy-2023-december-mystery2.jpg" width="143" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2022 Takara Tomy WiXoss #WXDi-CP01-051</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Honestly... not sure what this is. But it's </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Japanese</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, so I'll give it a nice home. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kenny</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> also included </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">second padded envelope</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... so maybe the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> holds some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">special meaning</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to him.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'll wrap things up with the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">contents</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of that </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">second care package</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">...<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December Package</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Unopened Epoch Packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;"> & </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Godzilla</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp5BillnTxi5KbmUiRDVbmfl_t4jChOeJZtS57ZWf7d2iYbrX7rUWuLfQnIQWqtE5F7Aq5VBO02OIUA61a4E1L_2utR0tlter209xBlnpQU_1wdlKIQ9UpeFBp6icEHaIRsY8qDgassb2KC1hoiG5ErXh-Nesv5Ko4_oSX6dW-zOHdpDhHLPU4ii4DKw/s2075/zippy-2023-december-packs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2075" data-original-width="1065" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsp5BillnTxi5KbmUiRDVbmfl_t4jChOeJZtS57ZWf7d2iYbrX7rUWuLfQnIQWqtE5F7Aq5VBO02OIUA61a4E1L_2utR0tlter209xBlnpQU_1wdlKIQ9UpeFBp6icEHaIRsY8qDgassb2KC1hoiG5ErXh-Nesv5Ko4_oSX6dW-zOHdpDhHLPU4ii4DKw/w205-h400/zippy-2023-december-packs.jpg" width="205" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The bulk of this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">package</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">nine unopened packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">different </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Epoch</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> products</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I'll be keeping </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of each </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sealed</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">unopened </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Japanese</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> pack collection</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Three</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">packs</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> will eventually be featured on </span><b><i><a href="https://apacktobenamedlater.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">A Pack to Be Named Later</span></a></i></b><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">Trust me. It'll happen. Just don't expect it to happen anytime soon. </span><i><span style="color: #999999;">Did you see the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">list</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">packages</span><span style="color: #999999;"> I mentioned at the beginning of this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">post</span><span style="color: #999999;">?</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> They are the priority.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">And rounding out the stuff </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kenny</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sent were some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">top loaded singles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWqI0xvt0ZKhbhbo0tbUaQ9sQcLxmai2rv1ZkRR-XhiuSKkzSuhsxvCRb9MUVfhrP1etWYI8EWIYBYNoN0KJxK3vhonBrGsYxZAUgGphr-nF_w_sqwofJn9osmNRZoF9nnrTYdVqS6HawC8tQB5B0CD5-uJJWEIpb1agram1Ia35IsMtmcdqa3esOFP4/s1050/zippy-2023-december-matsui.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="756" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIWqI0xvt0ZKhbhbo0tbUaQ9sQcLxmai2rv1ZkRR-XhiuSKkzSuhsxvCRb9MUVfhrP1etWYI8EWIYBYNoN0KJxK3vhonBrGsYxZAUgGphr-nF_w_sqwofJn9osmNRZoF9nnrTYdVqS6HawC8tQB5B0CD5-uJJWEIpb1agram1Ia35IsMtmcdqa3esOFP4/w144-h200/zippy-2023-december-matsui.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYAdIoIB-LhL0c9WBbYiGf0YTCF6lb_u0c4j9Nczp8aK3dBLotz8cMexYRm_NpBYrcW74WYtYPoEWLNJInMJMKe7VN6KmWoV0xciSAinct2PfA6zyaLIILCa_y7WU6IOW6v_EbsP6x2OljPnlrfPEdAzgqSLYWasc2o-_yowEgcE2a8mS8011h0YHtpQ/s1050/zippy-2023-december-matsui2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="756" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYAdIoIB-LhL0c9WBbYiGf0YTCF6lb_u0c4j9Nczp8aK3dBLotz8cMexYRm_NpBYrcW74WYtYPoEWLNJInMJMKe7VN6KmWoV0xciSAinct2PfA6zyaLIILCa_y7WU6IOW6v_EbsP6x2OljPnlrfPEdAzgqSLYWasc2o-_yowEgcE2a8mS8011h0YHtpQ/w144-h200/zippy-2023-december-matsui2.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2012 Sega Card-Gen #135</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This one is </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">another biggie</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Matsui</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> doesn't have a lot of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> featuring him with the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Oakland Athletics</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and I'm pretty sure this is the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first one</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to land in my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collection</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">There was </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">another copy</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> of that </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">2022 Takara Tomy WiXoss</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">card</span><span style="color: #999999;">, but I didn't scan it again. But I did scan this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">card</span><span style="color: #999999;">:</span></span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wBtp7NjFzMe8537Ze4Ob1efaOtagDfpJdVNvZoSS4yNYtRDrkRUQ5pkz2XWX6U9PmYFUCkF7gmwvBgSwZvyyy4dMek0YTNiVFFIB_8KPOEakdlD_FG_PcbsdNv1HsXjiR6V3-9PHdP-4UzsiKVckyAFU-CXPfDkIQIkB3lRATIgTnN2vHtDSqQIMA6g/s1020/zippy-2023-december-torrens.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="718" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wBtp7NjFzMe8537Ze4Ob1efaOtagDfpJdVNvZoSS4yNYtRDrkRUQ5pkz2XWX6U9PmYFUCkF7gmwvBgSwZvyyy4dMek0YTNiVFFIB_8KPOEakdlD_FG_PcbsdNv1HsXjiR6V3-9PHdP-4UzsiKVckyAFU-CXPfDkIQIkB3lRATIgTnN2vHtDSqQIMA6g/w141-h200/zippy-2023-december-torrens.jpg" width="141" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnUqISW0SdMq8ogPOK4Mbo9HQzBdYEwJ8Fxed8eagYL4Llpg4WPFYJgnD3g48loeTimqe3S6UxBtiLQnMRlFMBWDx_i4VWYZML8jvkXGyn6N-67bYHZrO_bVWxJZhVxnGfj97Cmc6RWJdYX819C9g2IAjt1pv50kBgWvJHrmyD1gi4Or9pBlCIbyWSLg/s1020/zippy-2023-december-torrens2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="724" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnUqISW0SdMq8ogPOK4Mbo9HQzBdYEwJ8Fxed8eagYL4Llpg4WPFYJgnD3g48loeTimqe3S6UxBtiLQnMRlFMBWDx_i4VWYZML8jvkXGyn6N-67bYHZrO_bVWxJZhVxnGfj97Cmc6RWJdYX819C9g2IAjt1pv50kBgWvJHrmyD1gi4Or9pBlCIbyWSLg/w142-h200/zippy-2023-december-torrens2.jpg" width="142" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Luis Torrens Custom #ZZ</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I've received this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> before in a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">previous zapping</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. It's sort of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kenny's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">trademark card </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">from his days of being the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">ultimate </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Luis Torrens</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> super collector</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Thank you</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kenny</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">! Not only for these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">awesome cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but for being such a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">class act</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Please let us know which direction your </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collection</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> takes you. It's my turn to owe you.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Saturday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-42250630888211208792024-02-20T15:00:00.000-08:002024-02-20T15:00:00.152-08:00Cleaning, Organizing, and Sorting<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">On a recent trip to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Costco</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I purchased some heavy duty </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bankers Boxes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> which led to some early </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">spring cleaning</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in my office. When I was finished, I had cataloged most of my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">larger card sets</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> which is something I've been meaning to do for years. Most of the large boxes have been sorted and put away, but this major </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cleaning</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">/</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">organization project</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> will probably continue until </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">mid</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">-</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">March</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> when </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">spring</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> actually arrives.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvRj-JYokltS098HvdQtYvKCt9VlMogWlsnyUNA0ZYEKOLy-osyGR1wPpQXx2y3DOvj120wvmpJXEK8V6TFGVyktv1D1aweR-u4n_xKCv0p0XQee-yfVochyphenhyphenvz-6X6r0XhLaGF5pNukz2lZiRinTPuXf_TPAVsgNb-JedsFwZ5PPq8WRCJcI9pogqLbU/s2803/sort-japanese.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1788" data-original-width="2803" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvRj-JYokltS098HvdQtYvKCt9VlMogWlsnyUNA0ZYEKOLy-osyGR1wPpQXx2y3DOvj120wvmpJXEK8V6TFGVyktv1D1aweR-u4n_xKCv0p0XQee-yfVochyphenhyphenvz-6X6r0XhLaGF5pNukz2lZiRinTPuXf_TPAVsgNb-JedsFwZ5PPq8WRCJcI9pogqLbU/w400-h255/sort-japanese.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">In the meantime... I'm also </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">organizing</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> parts of my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card collection</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> as well. Back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">December,</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I received a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">large flat rate box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Woody</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> over on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Sports Card Forum</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and inside were hundreds of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Japanese MLB</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. It took an entire afternoon to sort through his stuff and integrate it into my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">binders</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Here are the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">highlights</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">care package</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Let's start with the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ohtani's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> since he's arguably the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hottest player in the hobby</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpvEj50UilzKImLpz4TEVxv5JyUZsnFEnXmPJVks7h0-SAiwWKJjQOMXqC3HIFZySbJrCqQ_bmcekQghpKdIQGRbnwkE74WhyphenhyphenaNZmMXlcpiz25HSzBUvU8aFibVVZVF3lCM_KIFF7Lc2S7N8t6zpYy39Ou63KmMtNqtP1oo5-IkZK6XnXURdGADSb42w/s1025/woody-2023-22t-ohtani2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="740" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTpvEj50UilzKImLpz4TEVxv5JyUZsnFEnXmPJVks7h0-SAiwWKJjQOMXqC3HIFZySbJrCqQ_bmcekQghpKdIQGRbnwkE74WhyphenhyphenaNZmMXlcpiz25HSzBUvU8aFibVVZVF3lCM_KIFF7Lc2S7N8t6zpYy39Ou63KmMtNqtP1oo5-IkZK6XnXURdGADSb42w/w144-h200/woody-2023-22t-ohtani2.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoxuT6ln_5AHIetAHySftyayzRzWxTC5EDxXZ1a10SK6qT28s3GXsuyodvq-B3TcYnRVpEguONf5xvAvRZRoGf8an-AzJwxzDdBlZXGiyTzLQ44hfq6zgi_XOxkZ-j5sknPCH3vc4SCW5scFnFJECJatALHFJfzpmBNjBQFiU_TBqPGFng7WrEUHISL4/s1025/woody-2023-ohtani4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="738" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUoxuT6ln_5AHIetAHySftyayzRzWxTC5EDxXZ1a10SK6qT28s3GXsuyodvq-B3TcYnRVpEguONf5xvAvRZRoGf8an-AzJwxzDdBlZXGiyTzLQ44hfq6zgi_XOxkZ-j5sknPCH3vc4SCW5scFnFJECJatALHFJfzpmBNjBQFiU_TBqPGFng7WrEUHISL4/w144-h200/woody-2023-ohtani4.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNLEBVZ8zqr3_VYwZOWDjhosieRCpNOE_d4aumAbDTxbTEm0d5ErXHcBUZVAhokQYi656-hLoTfEVJ4hYC_8TKwWMVUpBGHrGHjLPROhEJFdSnyhpludYOieM_azm49qK6eVNGxPwqyn4v4i96LLmL5BUo6Z9NfSXieW-N9hRo3h0VHwUiCCtSEak-dg/s1025/woody-2023-ohtani5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="737" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNLEBVZ8zqr3_VYwZOWDjhosieRCpNOE_d4aumAbDTxbTEm0d5ErXHcBUZVAhokQYi656-hLoTfEVJ4hYC_8TKwWMVUpBGHrGHjLPROhEJFdSnyhpludYOieM_azm49qK6eVNGxPwqyn4v4i96LLmL5BUo6Z9NfSXieW-N9hRo3h0VHwUiCCtSEak-dg/w144-h200/woody-2023-ohtani5.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2018 Topps Opening Day #200</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2018 Topps Archives #50</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2018 Topps Update #US285</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">It's not often anyone sends me an </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ohtani</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rookie card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... let alone </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Once upon a time I owned a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">PSA</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">graded copy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of that</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"> Opening Day</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but I sold it during the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pandemic</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The other were completely brand new to me.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">In fact out of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">thirteen </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ohtani</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> he sent my way, I needed </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">twelve</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of them. Here's a look at the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">other nine</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6syOtGwJBaSYmFpRO6HooRmeyNZS8NC7seWa06iliwe_oIw-mDRPg_dajBupgyRfTudigAUV3KT6QmztCx0FqTXDpmAxy_CEzRmDzsl6FtJanypHaYa55fMv2Xz0jyk-DZynyICrUVszmoejQysQL5XQk0Ej-Xc38-rehXnHfH11CeSSuKl62CfdSYRw/s1025/woody-2023-ohtani1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="736" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6syOtGwJBaSYmFpRO6HooRmeyNZS8NC7seWa06iliwe_oIw-mDRPg_dajBupgyRfTudigAUV3KT6QmztCx0FqTXDpmAxy_CEzRmDzsl6FtJanypHaYa55fMv2Xz0jyk-DZynyICrUVszmoejQysQL5XQk0Ej-Xc38-rehXnHfH11CeSSuKl62CfdSYRw/w144-h200/woody-2023-ohtani1.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUNr50yPvzmYges6DFauvoMxblbHAXs8koq0bxClc4Q9qfpKb5or82wzcoBacS9EHkJ-xoOea4oPtF0KUrEpcNPRMgkfycYtBDNExmgJtAt-MbHWlQ5gq2-bbnBTiwgXz31fbXmxSSFSAWgV4AVeQMd9Y4zl8BfnQsTJkHmXatpEH17JMJQhQpk7x7KU/s1025/woody-2023-ohtani12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="741" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUNr50yPvzmYges6DFauvoMxblbHAXs8koq0bxClc4Q9qfpKb5or82wzcoBacS9EHkJ-xoOea4oPtF0KUrEpcNPRMgkfycYtBDNExmgJtAt-MbHWlQ5gq2-bbnBTiwgXz31fbXmxSSFSAWgV4AVeQMd9Y4zl8BfnQsTJkHmXatpEH17JMJQhQpk7x7KU/w144-h200/woody-2023-ohtani12.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihf-9jY-n4dsHGgN-rWR9r4Ex4WU9cFEJj-c90F7ICuRVR1l5lpi3GPkefcsoEyT9AqKDMc45el8hrg2Z_wQTfMZdvIj7shXTD2-HS76Wa60aMlfWwIuMvL7BEZGO9-vsJtJK16g07b0cucdk6d-UWa_A-kb0zkIjZKLl5HXn9lmCZ5PUcqEQ4EMZXzVw/s1025/woody-2023-ohtani6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="733" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihf-9jY-n4dsHGgN-rWR9r4Ex4WU9cFEJj-c90F7ICuRVR1l5lpi3GPkefcsoEyT9AqKDMc45el8hrg2Z_wQTfMZdvIj7shXTD2-HS76Wa60aMlfWwIuMvL7BEZGO9-vsJtJK16g07b0cucdk6d-UWa_A-kb0zkIjZKLl5HXn9lmCZ5PUcqEQ4EMZXzVw/w143-h200/woody-2023-ohtani6.jpg" width="143" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfx0jQ1zVlpz2FCNs9eBVJjrHewExG5rmg6STEXo7x8AQF5oWTpgeqNrs8L_KUJ6yKob5dHG_K2BA0uUfArmgfppLbRumK1tByXMr7vsX1Bt-fnsqNvm7LNLisqgDa85ECQu9_U6bnPzTe3UVLvkkAwls1ifxmsQFfSnDXUXwsOufClGPe9YM-5xQzKk/s1025/woody-2023-ohtani7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="734" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfx0jQ1zVlpz2FCNs9eBVJjrHewExG5rmg6STEXo7x8AQF5oWTpgeqNrs8L_KUJ6yKob5dHG_K2BA0uUfArmgfppLbRumK1tByXMr7vsX1Bt-fnsqNvm7LNLisqgDa85ECQu9_U6bnPzTe3UVLvkkAwls1ifxmsQFfSnDXUXwsOufClGPe9YM-5xQzKk/w143-h200/woody-2023-ohtani7.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YBWDHPMgN1YbGlp2uzPnRivrnUpkiSObYzEg5gHcxJGRhL3PqZmtP8qnLMQQt5ngWVDmuVH4uUZ2mHDQl9Xo4uIpGzIM78jtUuChoW6c02dO1kFdjnwFN1Fy63KEo5xLcraqgiQcAU8VrrcOpq9UCvrwaxfPyrU1x4E9yjVnuOmDrx82W16fz6li5g0/s1025/woody-2023-ohtani8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="732" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YBWDHPMgN1YbGlp2uzPnRivrnUpkiSObYzEg5gHcxJGRhL3PqZmtP8qnLMQQt5ngWVDmuVH4uUZ2mHDQl9Xo4uIpGzIM78jtUuChoW6c02dO1kFdjnwFN1Fy63KEo5xLcraqgiQcAU8VrrcOpq9UCvrwaxfPyrU1x4E9yjVnuOmDrx82W16fz6li5g0/w143-h200/woody-2023-ohtani8.jpg" width="143" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1lawUR-PCTfCai1y0tpLoPos2HSCGEvaIx_SPmkA38vPKOYUD09brHfjAdsAsEWBLV63WvP_8QBVrbg3At0YpVLCSlIaDwnSqZ50M33uKS5P5lyXBtZSoJWYNh2oOnZcE1CtD-owwYyT9fGwtCGWyDzgYga-xLbmJ7oyVLU-z-tt9tc0dTJn_eB5bUU/s1025/woody-2023-ohtani3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="733" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD1lawUR-PCTfCai1y0tpLoPos2HSCGEvaIx_SPmkA38vPKOYUD09brHfjAdsAsEWBLV63WvP_8QBVrbg3At0YpVLCSlIaDwnSqZ50M33uKS5P5lyXBtZSoJWYNh2oOnZcE1CtD-owwYyT9fGwtCGWyDzgYga-xLbmJ7oyVLU-z-tt9tc0dTJn_eB5bUU/w143-h200/woody-2023-ohtani3.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mR1x54m95NmLt6dYxOYNLpepyzUT9hj4BjKoE_kf9XZYmH2TQ2LyrXnKbQ7goG9Gnbqw1UC2cE0Qe5kQ7WVVpPsg6zffSxrywTvCNquI7-u1myN90O3Vjmffp6DcjmrKyT9hwOebd2t2Mjd0G_1EBvSWDEo93CXKFqUBXFwAtDvnFYXjt81HNHJ0cCQ/s1025/woody-2023-ohtani9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="734" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8mR1x54m95NmLt6dYxOYNLpepyzUT9hj4BjKoE_kf9XZYmH2TQ2LyrXnKbQ7goG9Gnbqw1UC2cE0Qe5kQ7WVVpPsg6zffSxrywTvCNquI7-u1myN90O3Vjmffp6DcjmrKyT9hwOebd2t2Mjd0G_1EBvSWDEo93CXKFqUBXFwAtDvnFYXjt81HNHJ0cCQ/w143-h200/woody-2023-ohtani9.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBlRH3UEML6_6MgeZ7EKmlw9o9kwOrXVJ5TYSlv94UqsuITE0O2f1aCBcVsCu0_Qq10n6aWigJ625lFtnc69N0SoCunzKbBBmjuIn241JNzOp52SWsdytktEhmXt4svPWIAkyFsrh8nOXWN3bugJkHDVHQhgVOZlrAN8yaaUFjofNSIvfvodkO1wgdnU/s1025/woody-2023-ohtani11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="730" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuBlRH3UEML6_6MgeZ7EKmlw9o9kwOrXVJ5TYSlv94UqsuITE0O2f1aCBcVsCu0_Qq10n6aWigJ625lFtnc69N0SoCunzKbBBmjuIn241JNzOp52SWsdytktEhmXt4svPWIAkyFsrh8nOXWN3bugJkHDVHQhgVOZlrAN8yaaUFjofNSIvfvodkO1wgdnU/w143-h200/woody-2023-ohtani11.jpg" width="143" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvodh26XY8K-UQ6y62WOtxlanmIGM60lN_Xju16N6zoXu3Ml1MWthoQnXZ_-mbOejQ_LGFwaEmVzqTaYHE7QBhqz8keqxQAALf_1DPJ7jV3H0PQ-c-TyANCjp_lnlhdEL_bu3qP9FeQesEGImZhcxq81wK90R1579vk_vULzjea_953yL1Z8mp5w_xd0/s1025/woody-2023-ohtani10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="1025" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzvodh26XY8K-UQ6y62WOtxlanmIGM60lN_Xju16N6zoXu3Ml1MWthoQnXZ_-mbOejQ_LGFwaEmVzqTaYHE7QBhqz8keqxQAALf_1DPJ7jV3H0PQ-c-TyANCjp_lnlhdEL_bu3qP9FeQesEGImZhcxq81wK90R1579vk_vULzjea_953yL1Z8mp5w_xd0/w200-h142/woody-2023-ohtani10.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> influx</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Shohei</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> motivated me to give him his very own </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">binder</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Up until now, his </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">9</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">-</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pocket pages</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were crammed between T</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">omokazu Ohka</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Hideki Okajima</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pages</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. He joins </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kurt Suzuki</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ichiro Suzuki</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">,</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Hideo Nomo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> as the only </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Japanese</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball players</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with their very own </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">binders</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Speaking of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ichiro</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nomo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, here are their </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">new additions</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Woody</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Let's start with </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ichiro</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRtFBrDp0xdhzgJa_yebDxdl-r4rId8yxkJMsgsR9YRZSmXyAZ-NIvhT6Cr7O3yHlmcsNp4TwZTitG6vINal_-cRq3JYRrexB54nOIuapi2W57dRNj8LT4cuLqL_QIGjfpR9ry2WifYZDLrhXJYw8_5TPVbFgW9rj0x2W8ay45mmrJ4qp39Cd-Yc0MdM/s1050/woody-2023-ichiro1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="759" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCRtFBrDp0xdhzgJa_yebDxdl-r4rId8yxkJMsgsR9YRZSmXyAZ-NIvhT6Cr7O3yHlmcsNp4TwZTitG6vINal_-cRq3JYRrexB54nOIuapi2W57dRNj8LT4cuLqL_QIGjfpR9ry2WifYZDLrhXJYw8_5TPVbFgW9rj0x2W8ay45mmrJ4qp39Cd-Yc0MdM/w144-h200/woody-2023-ichiro1.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43B4UMVv3HG6LXLvqWOH6PQ2sW84U3VVe9mcgfPQUqH03LNKWFUT7J_9afcqOGnB4WLXmnIgO0R0eYl0IMPArMiOWryZjvsyYQhz7ZgSG1eYnFmjwFST8AyULxCYQxwCYNkEwWJBK3xiZbU41BftOKBZ1617DIWkS6rZBfruSMNesxA7X_-HkwW8R01k/s1025/woody-2023-ichiro2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="735" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43B4UMVv3HG6LXLvqWOH6PQ2sW84U3VVe9mcgfPQUqH03LNKWFUT7J_9afcqOGnB4WLXmnIgO0R0eYl0IMPArMiOWryZjvsyYQhz7ZgSG1eYnFmjwFST8AyULxCYQxwCYNkEwWJBK3xiZbU41BftOKBZ1617DIWkS6rZBfruSMNesxA7X_-HkwW8R01k/w143-h200/woody-2023-ichiro2.jpg" width="143" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2021 Topps Platinum Players Die-Cuts #PDC-15</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2022 Topps Archives #185</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2021</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">least represented year</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ichiro PC</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. That </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">die-cut insert</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is only the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">second card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of him in my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">binder</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Maybe </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> didn't add him to a lot of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">checklists</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that year.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Next up are the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">new</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nomos</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuAsaeI6dJtmMcFriyng3mT27RB5mG3PxFOJTE_vB6gUyUeC50l1bGjED5Cyw9aAuu4ZavOonK8OmMBqfiHbfnEJcqetHTW6EHSgoUdzKIerz1VUA_Pzb3WsyXiWKyXsjJwhOJm3Hrw8OAsVM3M2lR9ZnB-Urw3t0CGOXALn7QYKHTLOb3Nu7gtuUINE/s1025/woody-2023-nomo1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="736" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiuAsaeI6dJtmMcFriyng3mT27RB5mG3PxFOJTE_vB6gUyUeC50l1bGjED5Cyw9aAuu4ZavOonK8OmMBqfiHbfnEJcqetHTW6EHSgoUdzKIerz1VUA_Pzb3WsyXiWKyXsjJwhOJm3Hrw8OAsVM3M2lR9ZnB-Urw3t0CGOXALn7QYKHTLOb3Nu7gtuUINE/w144-h200/woody-2023-nomo1.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_72_HGEofO2hj5BBd9SqO977hpXRR-bR7sv6VEhkVYGyIQea_K5QgR_j7RkZIwqZTZqsMfgVxr66o1PmT0Z1XdxYhrjE3Yrgp6rZ21TFTn8u5y7PmhFX0xcYWcJ1J53EDj9BBJC9N8-4ISd3adsAU2T9omX3zFTR3l98K1VhWiFVpCb2cWVjNat067k/s1025/woody-2023-nomo2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="735" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_72_HGEofO2hj5BBd9SqO977hpXRR-bR7sv6VEhkVYGyIQea_K5QgR_j7RkZIwqZTZqsMfgVxr66o1PmT0Z1XdxYhrjE3Yrgp6rZ21TFTn8u5y7PmhFX0xcYWcJ1J53EDj9BBJC9N8-4ISd3adsAU2T9omX3zFTR3l98K1VhWiFVpCb2cWVjNat067k/w143-h200/woody-2023-nomo2.jpg" width="143" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1995 Stadium Club #556</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1998 Bowman International #289</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I thought I owned most of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nomo's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rookie cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but was surprised to see I needed his </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Stadium Club</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. This </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bowman</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">parallel</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (which didn't scan well) is really cool as it shows off his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">birthplace</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdl1CzHODfrVAuvzs1_uFlH31NwZ2EeEUZzDmLL92z1nfQFQ4hW5fCwSQODSTsXPApXPa1DVFDh40mQHZ6FJLSlaSjRi_XvSMeqTC-eCoFZ4duMweiJ4rQhU_srbbcXFvmMZpZaRo3VyxnnN0fW8t8iMMNtJCxGu0ox_CtTJSH0qV3Ow4xuq-Iveid_w0/s1025/woody-2023-nomo3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="742" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdl1CzHODfrVAuvzs1_uFlH31NwZ2EeEUZzDmLL92z1nfQFQ4hW5fCwSQODSTsXPApXPa1DVFDh40mQHZ6FJLSlaSjRi_XvSMeqTC-eCoFZ4duMweiJ4rQhU_srbbcXFvmMZpZaRo3VyxnnN0fW8t8iMMNtJCxGu0ox_CtTJSH0qV3Ow4xuq-Iveid_w0/w145-h200/woody-2023-nomo3.jpg" width="145" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSf8gKrN-5-bhZ5FsRRXMYVsV-zQnW7gnZDqL5x3gTbcZghnBeCDqxa_6h-rKNdztMds27QJRV7Q7lAPNV6yPZQ0own1m2q9kHMEEb4KgFzQ8qYR3KVVQJ-D_qGjOT92Zw_GWDvwv7ZLgjZ0kt-vT3BYth_f2BNEu2mRbiRxksiwquCWyiAguxAOSVKg/s1025/woody-2023-nomo4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="717" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSf8gKrN-5-bhZ5FsRRXMYVsV-zQnW7gnZDqL5x3gTbcZghnBeCDqxa_6h-rKNdztMds27QJRV7Q7lAPNV6yPZQ0own1m2q9kHMEEb4KgFzQ8qYR3KVVQJ-D_qGjOT92Zw_GWDvwv7ZLgjZ0kt-vT3BYth_f2BNEu2mRbiRxksiwquCWyiAguxAOSVKg/w140-h200/woody-2023-nomo4.jpg" width="140" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2000 Pacific Invincible #56</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2003 Playoff Portraits #17</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Both of these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> are </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">proof</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card companies</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> are capable of making </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">high quality base cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nomo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">left</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> combines </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cardboard</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">acetate</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but what makes this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> especially </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cool</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is that it features him with the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Detroit Tigers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Playoff Portraits</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">thick</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">textured</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to give off the feeling that you're holding a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that was actually </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hand painted</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. If you've never owned one of these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, it might be worth tracking down a copy.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Wrapping up </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">today's post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Masahiro Tanaka</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">relic card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0HfQNMnIKUxxrCSuKsMc9NZSKtnJzEUSL7owac7WaoHzDjZpCZLSbLQdmVUDMaDuEJPd3iEu5IdSCbdG9_hNX7pL8nKWxcDk7DRaX_X7JjGLiBXOyhQ7evgQRb1UbmLs0G1EbIMGL7Hk-RQTvZjmxQ6IXgDc2kFftHC6d1NeZhEDHlv-47PqwOsvXCE/s1025/tanaka6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="739" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0HfQNMnIKUxxrCSuKsMc9NZSKtnJzEUSL7owac7WaoHzDjZpCZLSbLQdmVUDMaDuEJPd3iEu5IdSCbdG9_hNX7pL8nKWxcDk7DRaX_X7JjGLiBXOyhQ7evgQRb1UbmLs0G1EbIMGL7Hk-RQTvZjmxQ6IXgDc2kFftHC6d1NeZhEDHlv-47PqwOsvXCE/w144-h200/tanaka6.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9422ijaY7DP0vudiCpzuZ0nLL58mqWBzipHEvW4XZBLe24ZTUVFOyLZsXN9kz2Hw4j1QQBT09C20WIN9r8N8qZFdi4vftDczRJkbCPreD5z0SO6uK3UZ7_SjddsJLbc7B91QeluqlHGSa8YDn7zMOs748YCHuv7BYFD2C3ehOYb75TDwUelPvvRDr3g/s1025/woody-2023-tanaka.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="738" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9422ijaY7DP0vudiCpzuZ0nLL58mqWBzipHEvW4XZBLe24ZTUVFOyLZsXN9kz2Hw4j1QQBT09C20WIN9r8N8qZFdi4vftDczRJkbCPreD5z0SO6uK3UZ7_SjddsJLbc7B91QeluqlHGSa8YDn7zMOs748YCHuv7BYFD2C3ehOYb75TDwUelPvvRDr3g/w144-h200/woody-2023-tanaka.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2017 Topps Museum Collection</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Meaningful Material #MM-MTA (#'d 18/35)</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'm not exactly sure why </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> chose to call these </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Meaningful Material</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">relics</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... since according to the back of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">swatch</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> <i><span style="color: #999999;">isn't from any </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">specific game</span><span style="color: #999999;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">event</span><span style="color: #999999;">, or </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">season</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">. But when you consider that there are </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">only </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">35</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> copies</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">card</span><span style="color: #999999;"> out there and </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Woody</span><span style="color: #999999;"> was kind enough to send me </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">one of them</span><span style="color: #999999;">... that's pretty </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cool</span><span style="color: #999999;"> (and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">meaningful</span><span style="color: #999999;">).</span></span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Thank you</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Woody</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">! I have at least </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one more post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> planned that will show off some other </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that were part of this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">care package</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvRj-JYokltS098HvdQtYvKCt9VlMogWlsnyUNA0ZYEKOLy-osyGR1wPpQXx2y3DOvj120wvmpJXEK8V6TFGVyktv1D1aweR-u4n_xKCv0p0XQee-yfVochyphenhyphenvz-6X6r0XhLaGF5pNukz2lZiRinTPuXf_TPAVsgNb-JedsFwZ5PPq8WRCJcI9pogqLbU/s2803/sort-japanese.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1788" data-original-width="2803" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvRj-JYokltS098HvdQtYvKCt9VlMogWlsnyUNA0ZYEKOLy-osyGR1wPpQXx2y3DOvj120wvmpJXEK8V6TFGVyktv1D1aweR-u4n_xKCv0p0XQee-yfVochyphenhyphenvz-6X6r0XhLaGF5pNukz2lZiRinTPuXf_TPAVsgNb-JedsFwZ5PPq8WRCJcI9pogqLbU/w400-h255/sort-japanese.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">There were literally </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hundreds</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">duplicates</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Woody's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">care package</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that when combined with my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">extras</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> ended up filling close to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two full rows</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">5,000ct</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. In the midst of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">office organization</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sorted</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> them by </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">player</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><i><b><span style="color: #999999;">Anyone interested in starting a </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Japanese</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">baseball player collection</span><span style="color: #999999;">?</span></b></i><span style="color: #999999;"> If so, shoot me an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">email</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and I'll gladly help you out. Unfortunately I don't have many </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Ohtani</span><span style="color: #999999;"> or </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Ichiro</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">duplicates</span><span style="color: #999999;">, but I've got plenty of other guys like </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Nomo</span><span style="color: #999999;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Matsuzaka</span><span style="color: #999999;">, and </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Okajima</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Tuesday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-32634789371336116772024-02-06T15:00:00.000-08:002024-02-06T15:00:00.148-08:00Flea Market Finds #160: One Man's Junk<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnPFuXZO5DfS4KxOmGZ5aUbsbqjAquBRffIoszwFYWsEhdMCW6LPqzrsmQ_D0KZxXiV0aO7Y2dvcOvJEvQ0tQXkUdKM0CBqx-ifJltCWYaenEc3fP-trecvWuwOPjzqlYxING6v_uoAqtWE6C76nFwhsA7DzxcN5MSLRlhw7majk-wzdbaYTVYIkhxaA/s1025/fmf-50cent-area51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="742" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnPFuXZO5DfS4KxOmGZ5aUbsbqjAquBRffIoszwFYWsEhdMCW6LPqzrsmQ_D0KZxXiV0aO7Y2dvcOvJEvQ0tQXkUdKM0CBqx-ifJltCWYaenEc3fP-trecvWuwOPjzqlYxING6v_uoAqtWE6C76nFwhsA7DzxcN5MSLRlhw7majk-wzdbaYTVYIkhxaA/s320/fmf-50cent-area51.jpg" width="232" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mother Nature</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was looking out for me this weekend. It's been </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">raining</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> off and on the past week or so. Most of the time I enjoy this kind of weather, but I was looking forward to walking around the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">De Anza Flea Market</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Saturday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. As luck would have it... </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">no rain</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was forecasted that morning.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">My expectations weren't high. Both </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">vendor</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">visitor attendance</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> drops during the winter... and there were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">scattered showers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Friday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. But when I drove up, I was pleasantly surprised.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Purchase #1</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1993 Upper Deck Series 2 Baseball Box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">$40</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6Q1oKfL80iYnCNLh_aELUUHEZp5oDhRGhmc96br_OuI-m4ZRqW-e18-h6QeZCbDAbeiDg9M9jEE7Xduls12W_Db5j-I0tjJ7AS3RnOnFFD0lzQ17T3XtgQxgUY7RpWGl7985urbWiOec-eER0gwtNQSH6uAZBBleAVrZA_Z3ne6wXZ8phEPtcp-x8X0/s1675/fmf-box-1993-upperdeck-baseball.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1675" data-original-width="1066" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6Q1oKfL80iYnCNLh_aELUUHEZp5oDhRGhmc96br_OuI-m4ZRqW-e18-h6QeZCbDAbeiDg9M9jEE7Xduls12W_Db5j-I0tjJ7AS3RnOnFFD0lzQ17T3XtgQxgUY7RpWGl7985urbWiOec-eER0gwtNQSH6uAZBBleAVrZA_Z3ne6wXZ8phEPtcp-x8X0/s320/fmf-box-1993-upperdeck-baseball.jpg" width="204" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Not all </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Junk Wax</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">junk</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. About ten minutes into my walk, I stumbled across a guy who had a bunch of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Junk Wax Era</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">boxes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on his table. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Three</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> stood out. One was an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">early </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">90's Action Packed</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> football</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Another was a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1990 Upper Deck</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Then there's the one I bought.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><i><span style="color: #999999;">Does it contain a </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Derek Jeter</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">rookie</span><span style="color: #999999;">?</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> I won't find out anytime soon. This is going into my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">unopened wax box collection</span><span style="color: #999999;">. Yup. I'm one of those guys who collects those.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Purchase #2</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">1990 Comic Ball Promo Set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">$5</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4DzPfA5Rm4OlgfxBWgdHrx29BSnhMFqbbv4vaIav1nQbvQLWDXtlf97Axj7IMa5d59av-iPTf6LHxIMDHmnlNhaiXQE52K7pT2qUZseOxcgPmc0ty3f-2_1s2GL2_SLm_byIU9XmjU7Fwt-dU-bekowcbbJCE9IAGdbUcCWFz3I7nL2T6Xf_mz3-Das/s1686/fmf-1990-comic-ball-promo-set.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="1686" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4DzPfA5Rm4OlgfxBWgdHrx29BSnhMFqbbv4vaIav1nQbvQLWDXtlf97Axj7IMa5d59av-iPTf6LHxIMDHmnlNhaiXQE52K7pT2qUZseOxcgPmc0ty3f-2_1s2GL2_SLm_byIU9XmjU7Fwt-dU-bekowcbbJCE9IAGdbUcCWFz3I7nL2T6Xf_mz3-Das/w400-h291/fmf-1990-comic-ball-promo-set.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">A few vendors down, I found a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">binder</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">comic cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The guy wanted </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$20</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for the entire binder, which I'm sure was a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">fair price</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Unfortunately, I didn't really want anything other than this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">promo cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLST_MtRNA7emrkGmINAk0XoLw9uaOL6J1jLl2NBnjdZm2zwPE6XG4dvbe1pQaG_Z0I1v8FC8g2ZDdDlk3kPfYy5bUmYtS6d5jYlsyMJOnc-_Mqg9CEH84I5LrPoRKWqFqUWWiWVHGKjCA6NjjiODuDZurNx7NQr5D8rBSNVfEPt9JdBg2HWzwpq0r5U/s1693/fmf-1990-comic-ball-promo-set2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="1693" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxLST_MtRNA7emrkGmINAk0XoLw9uaOL6J1jLl2NBnjdZm2zwPE6XG4dvbe1pQaG_Z0I1v8FC8g2ZDdDlk3kPfYy5bUmYtS6d5jYlsyMJOnc-_Mqg9CEH84I5LrPoRKWqFqUWWiWVHGKjCA6NjjiODuDZurNx7NQr5D8rBSNVfEPt9JdBg2HWzwpq0r5U/w400-h290/fmf-1990-comic-ball-promo-set2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Another </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Junk Wax Era</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">product</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I like. I already own a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">complete set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">regular set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">holograms</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Now I have the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">promo card set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> too.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Purchase #3</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">2023 Hot Wheels Premium Fast & Furious</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">$15</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTZjGtY1n43nM92n1EMBsIaxu2-YtqU0nURZynJaUmBFQHZO16uQbFJljD-veUw4_IbMpIap9Zp2MMXsiMLnmH5V_KdkfAD7dgq4jUhhXAH8tyxDKSaDnupPue9q2UnGiu5_MeEpb7k7hoXJ8baAw0HDr67xCiN_GDMXQKNFR23HTVa1xGQRVznqYdLo/s1848/fmf-hot-wheels-fastandfurious-supra.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1848" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTZjGtY1n43nM92n1EMBsIaxu2-YtqU0nURZynJaUmBFQHZO16uQbFJljD-veUw4_IbMpIap9Zp2MMXsiMLnmH5V_KdkfAD7dgq4jUhhXAH8tyxDKSaDnupPue9q2UnGiu5_MeEpb7k7hoXJ8baAw0HDr67xCiN_GDMXQKNFR23HTVa1xGQRVznqYdLo/s320/fmf-hot-wheels-fastandfurious-supra.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'm a sucker for </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Toyota Supra MK5</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">die-cast</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Saw this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two-pack</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">December</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but the vendor wanted </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$20</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Found this at a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">different vendor's booth</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and he told me </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$15</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is what </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Target</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sells them for (if you can find them on the pegs).</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Purchase #4</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">50ยข Cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">$3</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">There are always a handful of vendors who deal with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">storage locker purchases</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I'm </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">90%</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> positive this guy was one of them. He had a bunch of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">5,000</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">ct. boxes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> filled with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sports cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The majority were</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from the last decade or so, but there was some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">vintage</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sprinkled in here and there. When I walked up there were a couple of other guys flipping through them.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I spent about </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">thirty minutes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> going through the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">boxes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Here's what I pulled out...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnPFuXZO5DfS4KxOmGZ5aUbsbqjAquBRffIoszwFYWsEhdMCW6LPqzrsmQ_D0KZxXiV0aO7Y2dvcOvJEvQ0tQXkUdKM0CBqx-ifJltCWYaenEc3fP-trecvWuwOPjzqlYxING6v_uoAqtWE6C76nFwhsA7DzxcN5MSLRlhw7majk-wzdbaYTVYIkhxaA/s1025/fmf-50cent-area51.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="742" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnPFuXZO5DfS4KxOmGZ5aUbsbqjAquBRffIoszwFYWsEhdMCW6LPqzrsmQ_D0KZxXiV0aO7Y2dvcOvJEvQ0tQXkUdKM0CBqx-ifJltCWYaenEc3fP-trecvWuwOPjzqlYxING6v_uoAqtWE6C76nFwhsA7DzxcN5MSLRlhw7majk-wzdbaYTVYIkhxaA/w145-h200/fmf-50cent-area51.jpg" width="145" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1IyWyqi9tljDKehddwSzw_bk651SGYQidTrs2Et3TP1n-QFGjmu_voQG-MQHPtgkpDoAUZTrEar-182O29CxWDctNWVLzJI40sHvzXb8QxDx1zwSTSGgwC-1s9ImOkQPdK-TZtu6JenEBjCgqM8J7dV6xOpuJvEejXS-C9GgePxiufx3K5_bLglEM_M/s1025/fmf-50cent-area51b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="731" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1IyWyqi9tljDKehddwSzw_bk651SGYQidTrs2Et3TP1n-QFGjmu_voQG-MQHPtgkpDoAUZTrEar-182O29CxWDctNWVLzJI40sHvzXb8QxDx1zwSTSGgwC-1s9ImOkQPdK-TZtu6JenEBjCgqM8J7dV6xOpuJvEejXS-C9GgePxiufx3K5_bLglEM_M/w143-h200/fmf-50cent-area51b.jpg" width="143" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><i>2010 Topps A&G #130</i></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I found this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first stack</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I picked up and it totally lured me in. I've mentioned it before that back in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">60's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">father</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> worked on the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">SR-71</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Area 51</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. This </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> goes into my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Papa Fuji PC</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">There were hundreds of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Allen & Ginter</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from a variety of years sitting in these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">boxes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I would have bought a lot more had they been a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">dime</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> each. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">50ยข</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is a different story. I only picked up </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Here's the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">other one</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfAPVW9LAfY3sCNrWlhWlBCe8tqvikPGpza8eHHJzb3D3mfZZmpCgX9vl7_mhwvUIIHhtMLInf-Eww6KtGCVRcnJjUd7zfztSatLDuNtLhtW5sAJL5xLrHFrGt4dsdEUczz4mcDxKXuJosQViZjzZ0nyh_ZCUqcLoNaYozksG8mZd5UdcRaPkNmmlqQk/s1025/fmf-50cent-apollo-creed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="737" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfAPVW9LAfY3sCNrWlhWlBCe8tqvikPGpza8eHHJzb3D3mfZZmpCgX9vl7_mhwvUIIHhtMLInf-Eww6KtGCVRcnJjUd7zfztSatLDuNtLhtW5sAJL5xLrHFrGt4dsdEUczz4mcDxKXuJosQViZjzZ0nyh_ZCUqcLoNaYozksG8mZd5UdcRaPkNmmlqQk/w144-h200/fmf-50cent-apollo-creed.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ATh8XbP6IYe2GMH0Ejs7_G8JOCshHy1Bs8ZgHBPLfR1e7ebGiHDF7oL0wt9BesAgFbfExSBqQ4iG3b-QATUS8H_aaofW7UoyE0yUnBY-oEwfuPN-HhNKJirNYvsNtvhqWaVmF0LLowuj0YcYpnC3PKboVXgcqSP-6DKGN3f6RUcnfGiR7x0FmfXpBCg/s1025/fmf-50cent-apollo-creed2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="739" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ATh8XbP6IYe2GMH0Ejs7_G8JOCshHy1Bs8ZgHBPLfR1e7ebGiHDF7oL0wt9BesAgFbfExSBqQ4iG3b-QATUS8H_aaofW7UoyE0yUnBY-oEwfuPN-HhNKJirNYvsNtvhqWaVmF0LLowuj0YcYpnC3PKboVXgcqSP-6DKGN3f6RUcnfGiR7x0FmfXpBCg/w144-h200/fmf-50cent-apollo-creed2.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2015 Topps A&G #56</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This was one of those </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">weird purchases</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> where I had just thought about this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the night before. On </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Friday</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">, I saw on </span><a href="https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/39445065/carl-weathers-co-star-rocky-apollo-creed-dies-76" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">ESPN</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> that </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Carl Weathers</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">passed away</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and immediately wondered if I owned any </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Rocky</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999;"> featuring him. When I checked </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">COMC</span><span style="color: #999999;">, this card popped up. Not sure if I have one sitting in a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">box </span><span style="color: #999999;">somewhere.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Anyways... I figured I'd grab this copy just in case.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Next up were these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Jordans</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiM1q_-VfcUvd85-OZu4OVumqD_4l8dVjhrpNUffEz4kcBFLlzOwYt6XVclnU6RTeDzoQMHDCxDBfKlaAO9SnwSwGZD1wWvEwyTcqamRQN8JNDpDIm2QY_9lee_xKn21Kfj673YXhEnTvi5pmeg0QNZZ8HIhf13p6Iy92PyieMuNRrTOjnxPtgNoWhco/s2310/fmf-50cent-jordans.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="2310" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieiM1q_-VfcUvd85-OZu4OVumqD_4l8dVjhrpNUffEz4kcBFLlzOwYt6XVclnU6RTeDzoQMHDCxDBfKlaAO9SnwSwGZD1wWvEwyTcqamRQN8JNDpDIm2QY_9lee_xKn21Kfj673YXhEnTvi5pmeg0QNZZ8HIhf13p6Iy92PyieMuNRrTOjnxPtgNoWhco/w400-h181/fmf-50cent-jordans.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2009 Upper Deck 20th Anniversary Retrospective #1009, #1126, & #1131</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">There were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hundreds</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of these </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Retrospective</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">inserts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and I like the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">A&G</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">singles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.... I would have loved to have a bunch of them. But </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">50ยข</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> each adds up quickly.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I seem to have accidentally </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">deleted</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sixth card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I purchased... which was a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Shaquille O'neal</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Hoops </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rookie card</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">. </span><i><span style="color: #999999;">But do you really need to see anymore J</span><span style="color: #ffa400;">unk Wax Era</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cards </span><span style="color: #999999;">today?</span></i></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Well that wraps up my latest trip to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">flea market</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Not sure when I'll be heading back. Guess it all depends on the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">weather</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">In the meantime... I do have </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">a few posts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I'm working on in between </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">staying busy at work</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">organizing stuff</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> at home.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Until then...</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Tuesday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-83149013519831104122024-01-23T15:00:00.000-08:002024-01-23T15:00:00.136-08:00Multiple Meanings<div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">As many of you know... </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2023</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was filled with a lot of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">ups</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">downs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. It will forever be marred by the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">loss of my father</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">friend</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mike</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in a span of a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">month</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. But it wasn't all bad... these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two tragic events</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> brought me closer to my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">siblings</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and strengthened the bond between </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">close friends</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hobby</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> also helped me get through that </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rough patch</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> by serving as a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">healthy distraction</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. One of the most </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">therapeutic</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> things for me outside of building </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Lego</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sets</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sorting cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">building sets</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Walking around </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">flea markets</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card shows</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> also helped.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Back on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Saturday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">December 16th</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... I was able to do both. Today's post covers a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pair</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">purchases</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... one from each. Both of these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">purchases</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> were </span><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">BIG</span></i></b><span style="color: #999999;">... but in </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">different ways</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Let's start with my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">most expensive hobby purchase </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2023</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> and a </span><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">BIG</span></i></b><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">addition</span><span style="color: #999999;"> to my </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Ichiro PC</span><span style="color: #999999;">:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0ba4sAR12IAPUbile1M96G0nH11iyxXt5eo_F8N3e8BWjITUvC8JiZuDoYu63I2l9SnJ2HbbqA2-LHA_l7gl_B0GkCx28y0HPnoN0bmiE5FEgOvHBA4NVZwWmJBUyn6fAPB3wDAm0UfdXqPPt7rIA-uewgcHggrGUIxTc92DUzbLrRQxECw4EQregSQ/s1300/auto-finesst-ichiro.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="854" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0ba4sAR12IAPUbile1M96G0nH11iyxXt5eo_F8N3e8BWjITUvC8JiZuDoYu63I2l9SnJ2HbbqA2-LHA_l7gl_B0GkCx28y0HPnoN0bmiE5FEgOvHBA4NVZwWmJBUyn6fAPB3wDAm0UfdXqPPt7rIA-uewgcHggrGUIxTc92DUzbLrRQxECw4EQregSQ/w210-h320/auto-finesst-ichiro.jpg" width="210" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2023 Finest Flashbacks Auto #183</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I was hanging out at the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Silicon Valley Card & Collectibles Show</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> at my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">buddy's table</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. And within minutes... my eyes were drawn to this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">gorgeous card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that took me back to the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">90's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> when </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">autographs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">on-card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rare</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I wanted it.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Right next to the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ichiro</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was the other </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2001 Rookie of the Year Award</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">winner</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBq8jYf4MpNfpXEFs-EApphLwHkal3_JH27G2NnlW14GN5cz6bUEzr-fa98E9MUoovTl1cojUIzThqMIdjCnWIOjSqkBQufZDpmEDowv-j30Sr4a67hkqDVRdrn4D9xlfr79jCpIEXbs__sle2nPUqbUL7_h_gAR_emn940-Ay7EKB4Ovxa45mZvPmQAU/s1300/auto-finesst-pujols.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="855" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBq8jYf4MpNfpXEFs-EApphLwHkal3_JH27G2NnlW14GN5cz6bUEzr-fa98E9MUoovTl1cojUIzThqMIdjCnWIOjSqkBQufZDpmEDowv-j30Sr4a67hkqDVRdrn4D9xlfr79jCpIEXbs__sle2nPUqbUL7_h_gAR_emn940-Ay7EKB4Ovxa45mZvPmQAU/w210-h320/auto-finesst-pujols.jpg" width="210" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2023 Finest Flashbacks Auto #179</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I wanted this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> too. The only problem is my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hobby budget</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> doesn't allow for </span><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">BIG</span></i></b><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">purchases</span><span style="color: #999999;"> like these.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">After watching </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">two other collectors</span><span style="color: #999999;"> show an interest in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Ichiro</span><span style="color: #999999;">, I decided to pull them out of the case and have him hold them for me.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSU-VXbjcWrgRgpLWo33lZgxtpeXeMjVgblgIgehyYYC_3Ab5ylQOmCt26WA-NoEl4PsGU2c8HOa-ggYsnGTz5rY8prQ0NCrU7dHJ2ijfMOUdAJGRoxEjHu0ZB4r_sGYM36M5j4f6HwxKWuUAZGh7hDKpPFaf8b2ZZnHpSI8kO7yCVfmZ1kAz9tUfGg5M/s1300/auto-finesst-ichiro2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="852" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSU-VXbjcWrgRgpLWo33lZgxtpeXeMjVgblgIgehyYYC_3Ab5ylQOmCt26WA-NoEl4PsGU2c8HOa-ggYsnGTz5rY8prQ0NCrU7dHJ2ijfMOUdAJGRoxEjHu0ZB4r_sGYM36M5j4f6HwxKWuUAZGh7hDKpPFaf8b2ZZnHpSI8kO7yCVfmZ1kAz9tUfGg5M/w131-h200/auto-finesst-ichiro2.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-bx6REf4QF94JCdV1OLB1-J9WBj3IcFjzigQyxcq4atTcuJ9ir3xU39VPYNQ6iZBPraQxEiJX3QHX7zzhtXYyqqUms4VhpQLINRqmntyZ3QHqOZqbRQqdRVw5z8Y7KxZxIPdbz7x4dAjCMG8iE-p_iM4qYeFOMqEI8UgQmydOsd8F5UFQYX2gphIXkQ/s1300/auto-finesst-pujols2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="854" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-bx6REf4QF94JCdV1OLB1-J9WBj3IcFjzigQyxcq4atTcuJ9ir3xU39VPYNQ6iZBPraQxEiJX3QHX7zzhtXYyqqUms4VhpQLINRqmntyZ3QHqOZqbRQqdRVw5z8Y7KxZxIPdbz7x4dAjCMG8iE-p_iM4qYeFOMqEI8UgQmydOsd8F5UFQYX2gphIXkQ/w131-h200/auto-finesst-pujols2.jpg" width="131" /></a></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">When things settled down... he offered me the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pair</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$450</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">. Yeah... that's </span><i><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">BIG</span></b></i><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">money</span><span style="color: #999999;"> (to me). But a month has passed and there has been </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">zero buyer's remorse</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">He tossed in this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cool refractor</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to sweeten the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">deal</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrWKr4oNM2O7PggF8AfHJQ3yGnuKmjC9fj1Z30qCRR-oqJHo9QBUe64qdO9enYJXnkiXJWX5zvwK_BPru8v6punj9qWFD4xc41hp_4PM0TvYtwYUgu5-7OWnsb5xLc0evVXe0WiBhgpX04-GWOw3-xQN5mVY6HU1mpYSDe1L_BB2DTP6h4IVlshGb3Ak/s1025/show-2023-ben-freebie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1025" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXrWKr4oNM2O7PggF8AfHJQ3yGnuKmjC9fj1Z30qCRR-oqJHo9QBUe64qdO9enYJXnkiXJWX5zvwK_BPru8v6punj9qWFD4xc41hp_4PM0TvYtwYUgu5-7OWnsb5xLc0evVXe0WiBhgpX04-GWOw3-xQN5mVY6HU1mpYSDe1L_BB2DTP6h4IVlshGb3Ak/s320/show-2023-ben-freebie.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2000 Topps Chrome Combos Refractor #TC5</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I know this particular </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">insert set </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">is polarizing among </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collectors</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. You either love it... or hate it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf5UnuxlhKDW207V07al0Ok9FlC5YUi4Tm9dBGjrZiyEO6ciejB-5vVBJQYHs3jO8HEtM9r13Dw65PfV-1uWMT60frO2NvTSblpQNdy0xrkXrYCMFzriSzp4OJoUq3JptnO4LMclJt_eSh3NT8hV_BUUpAztRZktIoD_vHDCIOYt-N_WSjdeSwqc1_r0/s1025/show-2023-ben-freebie2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1025" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinf5UnuxlhKDW207V07al0Ok9FlC5YUi4Tm9dBGjrZiyEO6ciejB-5vVBJQYHs3jO8HEtM9r13Dw65PfV-1uWMT60frO2NvTSblpQNdy0xrkXrYCMFzriSzp4OJoUq3JptnO4LMclJt_eSh3NT8hV_BUUpAztRZktIoD_vHDCIOYt-N_WSjdeSwqc1_r0/w320-h226/show-2023-ben-freebie2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I obviously love it! In </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2000</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nomar</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Alex</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Derek</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> were the </span><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">BIG 3</span></i></b><span style="color: #999999;"> among </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">American League</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">shortstops</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and although we crossed into the aughts, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">refractors</span><span style="color: #999999;"> were still reasonably </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">tough pulls</span><span style="color: #999999;">. These </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">inserts</span><span style="color: #999999;"> were seeded into </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">1</span><span style="color: #999999;">:</span><span style="color: #ffa400;">80</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">packs</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">The other </span><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">BIG</span></i></b><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">purchase</span><span style="color: #999999;"> I made that day took place earlier in the morning at the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Branham Flea Market</span><span style="color: #999999;">. I stumbled across a guy with a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">binder</span><span style="color: #999999;"> containing a bunch of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">oversized cards</span><span style="color: #999999;">. He wanted </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">$10</span><span style="color: #999999;"> for the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">binder</span><span style="color: #999999;">, but was focused on the quality of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">binder</span><span style="color: #999999;"> itself and not the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">So I asked him if he'd take </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$5</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pages</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> without the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">binder</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. He accepted. I had taken a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">photo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of all of the stuff, but accidentally </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">deleted</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> it. However I did </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">scan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">highlights</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">purchase</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> which were these </span><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">BIG</span></i></b><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">inserts</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">parallels</span><span style="color: #999999;"> from the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">90's</span><span style="color: #999999;"> before putting them all away.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Since most of you are </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball fans</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, here's the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">only baseball card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of note:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhk4vUXYyharBwscdzx22SeFGMcFtRMgjXU2aIgXxchoLdDPT7XWkf6zFKLaGZ4kIIA_jUwKBh_4eOis0jV3JuhahCUG7qasqZJmVsV0eBvP5ihQj4bQKYw3YH9HwT8xxtuIFW1aP0lPU3OwnOgQGHbbnzupxgurWgGNWFAxjzC24KYMIZ2gTs9ak_l8/s1550/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-mattingly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1550" data-original-width="1105" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhk4vUXYyharBwscdzx22SeFGMcFtRMgjXU2aIgXxchoLdDPT7XWkf6zFKLaGZ4kIIA_jUwKBh_4eOis0jV3JuhahCUG7qasqZJmVsV0eBvP5ihQj4bQKYw3YH9HwT8xxtuIFW1aP0lPU3OwnOgQGHbbnzupxgurWgGNWFAxjzC24KYMIZ2gTs9ak_l8/w228-h320/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-mattingly.jpg" width="228" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1995 Score Rules Jumbo #SR25 (#'d 2,489/3000)</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">This is a </span><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">BIG</span></i></b><span style="color: #999999;"> (</span><span style="color: #ffa400;">7.5"</span><span style="color: #999999;"> x </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">10.5"</span><span style="color: #999999;">) </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">parallel</span><span style="color: #999999;"> to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">pack inserted counterparts</span><span style="color: #999999;">. Back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">1995</span><span style="color: #999999;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Score</span><span style="color: #999999;"> produced </span><a href="https://www.ebay.com/itm/355292810775?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Baseball Collector Kits</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> that contained </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">twenty-six assorted packs</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Score Series 1</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Series 2</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">baseball</span><span style="color: #999999;">, a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">binder</span><span style="color: #999999;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">ten collector pages</span><span style="color: #999999;">, and one of these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">oversized parallels</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRw0HgXYodMS0Q02NBBRiSUzRmWN5ttX4n2hA8qBJKf9QtZFleBD50Qxwf-sc6Ksycze3CgCFUtxYDxiaEt_ko3qSnl5mm7CUm2mcLUzOQwwOzOEvAXeBCjxwpkC_eUGvRf7I4KaDttbve7x5Xr_2pzzTwt9k1ioSVJ4q-5T2PhaifMlpir9tunbaVQA/s1550/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-mattingly2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="1550" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRw0HgXYodMS0Q02NBBRiSUzRmWN5ttX4n2hA8qBJKf9QtZFleBD50Qxwf-sc6Ksycze3CgCFUtxYDxiaEt_ko3qSnl5mm7CUm2mcLUzOQwwOzOEvAXeBCjxwpkC_eUGvRf7I4KaDttbve7x5Xr_2pzzTwt9k1ioSVJ4q-5T2PhaifMlpir9tunbaVQA/w320-h228/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-mattingly2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Based on how many are available on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">eBay</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, they aren't very common... even though </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">3,000</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">copies</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of each </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">produced</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">next card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">key</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">purchase</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQPakgFZOMmj52oPy60_1HQR2pvgmtZvb1JwODEals76tRzvEuAGUrL8bhzypXKHCnP1yFc0F3AHUf3SHtZgTTjJB4jr8XSy3K3DA2RfetWtGYNQQQEYCDOGrHl9vnxO-nFlxreqPO8rhXvUpY4wvtPLwJMKDyIUXwTXEludw3UDuWqn163pef7Gy96c/s1500/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-marino.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1194" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQPakgFZOMmj52oPy60_1HQR2pvgmtZvb1JwODEals76tRzvEuAGUrL8bhzypXKHCnP1yFc0F3AHUf3SHtZgTTjJB4jr8XSy3K3DA2RfetWtGYNQQQEYCDOGrHl9vnxO-nFlxreqPO8rhXvUpY4wvtPLwJMKDyIUXwTXEludw3UDuWqn163pef7Gy96c/w159-h200/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-marino.jpg" width="159" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWy_6XpjAuYGO6zycvY62WWiUTEu9bHNqX5K3HW7Eobrajvzfy0fRbgzZ70ocgAjUZVOM_UbxrmbdfXVd8WGUSO3Ob3lR2LLx3UmN1o-fkV3dC7MJrJqMXBvrPLpz5UBSrQFR04woNEFZF-Qfld2l6bb5LOPsTDVHkrNrgzzNEDJozYIr-VzuPUz-X_8/s1500/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-marino2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1199" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWy_6XpjAuYGO6zycvY62WWiUTEu9bHNqX5K3HW7Eobrajvzfy0fRbgzZ70ocgAjUZVOM_UbxrmbdfXVd8WGUSO3Ob3lR2LLx3UmN1o-fkV3dC7MJrJqMXBvrPLpz5UBSrQFR04woNEFZF-Qfld2l6bb5LOPsTDVHkrNrgzzNEDJozYIr-VzuPUz-X_8/w160-h200/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-marino2.jpg" width="160" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1997 Donruss Studio Stained Glass Stars #15 (#'d 0318/1000)</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">This </span><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">BIG</span></i></b><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">acetate insert</span><span style="color: #999999;"> is </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">gorgeous</span><span style="color: #999999;">! Once I saw this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">card</span><span style="color: #999999;">, I knew I wanted the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">entire lot</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">There were </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">two </span><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">BIG</span></i></b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> names</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> featured in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">lot</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyOovjrhsQFo4QqmBIFuYT0Ui1-EDCsmVjux_4N6MXK77FTIvZZw71Dtcn9H_PU4vpZX4WUrAzwAV_8Ovo7bCwS0oCTR5RV7KXuz421xkxqgoGdDNGLtscq4vwJ7w6noRGBCpTsTDI0jm5zyPvWjwCMBADHcS30hq2hb8Uol2rDAOLsTrbh-0vh2vYYc/s1500/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-elway.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1196" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyOovjrhsQFo4QqmBIFuYT0Ui1-EDCsmVjux_4N6MXK77FTIvZZw71Dtcn9H_PU4vpZX4WUrAzwAV_8Ovo7bCwS0oCTR5RV7KXuz421xkxqgoGdDNGLtscq4vwJ7w6noRGBCpTsTDI0jm5zyPvWjwCMBADHcS30hq2hb8Uol2rDAOLsTrbh-0vh2vYYc/w159-h200/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-elway.jpg" width="159" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkhK9FIhkAJ3hA9mD_30s2jAhuEN99CaVR-zjXTzRVQy3eK-mwP9rHnDQguucVIsYVx1Dozd7mDgrIOmubMUmw4JjWrguZUqwB06LdWm4wsBwKmLHuH-GWWJwcLpY0lTRRq0U9-YmHWdSpt6rBINrfBwHhdICkndXoHy0IRBQstBeT-HLFhEGyPIJKJM/s1501/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-elway2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="1199" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFkhK9FIhkAJ3hA9mD_30s2jAhuEN99CaVR-zjXTzRVQy3eK-mwP9rHnDQguucVIsYVx1Dozd7mDgrIOmubMUmw4JjWrguZUqwB06LdWm4wsBwKmLHuH-GWWJwcLpY0lTRRq0U9-YmHWdSpt6rBINrfBwHhdICkndXoHy0IRBQstBeT-HLFhEGyPIJKJM/w160-h200/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-elway2.jpg" width="160" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1997 Donruss Studio 8x10 Gold Portrait Proof #29 (#'d 0115/1000)</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP57Z8h7jezB3OTis3c4zQB2n35VFL1Uzl6xjbYylibsSIe_b_iSUOsTDkNnxy0aSZV30H41Y4mBb9o0Ffhgd-9hAqxNCo0i9kx7GmYVC-fO9ydEYd3pRXr_L844mabyHpYVN-wAuL09fblods_OVEJI-VwkoVMJCQ3BzTKeK_HjowrgXS3uCwdpFrpIc/s1500/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-moon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1195" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP57Z8h7jezB3OTis3c4zQB2n35VFL1Uzl6xjbYylibsSIe_b_iSUOsTDkNnxy0aSZV30H41Y4mBb9o0Ffhgd-9hAqxNCo0i9kx7GmYVC-fO9ydEYd3pRXr_L844mabyHpYVN-wAuL09fblods_OVEJI-VwkoVMJCQ3BzTKeK_HjowrgXS3uCwdpFrpIc/w159-h200/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-moon.jpg" width="159" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHiILhQfWt8dC8WagixADw-G9tsGPHjC_8L10rnkhXbO42NbQcK-g-5oUtx826fKlOia-6PGZ0J-eSorqc7de36uOpIuj42zVpJHa1gMbiwYojLNTw44ovKWkYSYIB60OMRg5k42QjYc0ppDbA_X_9loEKdo83GukgnX_Mmhs9fCt93nVmWFDIj9EPf8/s1500/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-moon2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1193" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHiILhQfWt8dC8WagixADw-G9tsGPHjC_8L10rnkhXbO42NbQcK-g-5oUtx826fKlOia-6PGZ0J-eSorqc7de36uOpIuj42zVpJHa1gMbiwYojLNTw44ovKWkYSYIB60OMRg5k42QjYc0ppDbA_X_9loEKdo83GukgnX_Mmhs9fCt93nVmWFDIj9EPf8/w159-h200/fmf-2023-oversized-lot-moon2.jpg" width="159" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1997 Donruss Studio Red Zone Masterpiece #20 (#'d 0853/3500)</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Elway</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> is a </span><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">BIG</span></i></b><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">addition</span><span style="color: #999999;"> to my </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Stanford PC</span><span style="color: #999999;">... while the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Moon</span><span style="color: #999999;"> is a </span><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">BIG</span></i></b><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Seahawks</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">pickup</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Well that wraps up my </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">two </span><i><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">BIG</span></b></i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> purchases</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">December</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Gotta love </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">multiple meanings</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">overpriced</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">oversized card purchases</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Tuesday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-20086109299497373392024-01-16T15:00:00.000-08:002024-01-16T15:00:00.134-08:00All Good Things<div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">If </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"><i>all good things</i></span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> must come to an end</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">, then that's something I can live with... because it makes me appreciate those things a wee bit more.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">The perfect example is the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">advent calendar</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@SumoMenkoMan" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Ryan</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> sent me </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">last month</span><span style="color: #999999;">. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Advent calendars</span><span style="color: #999999;"> have a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">built-in end date</span><span style="color: #999999;">. So today, we'll see what </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">goodies</span><span style="color: #999999;"> he put together for me for </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Day 19</span><span style="color: #999999;"> through </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Day 25</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">We left off with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blaster box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2022 Topps Series 2</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. We'll kick off this post with another </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blaster box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">...</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 19th</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwAH6n0SXx_yl_PhGxSy6X2m2jge8rzRETUeyKRWLllRjqc1sMvsstQtl7SEtu_vHkrjw-XClQV0ZXHxZ-uj-e8F7dDArNeKw3RXeQiCDKTYLLhOG9P2GIovCUbsBh9sgdHD3TYFrjOGdILXkGKmAIeUVJ4mvtMETkMa7KnrmevCpV0bxzchJw_zpEeY/s1225/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="879" data-original-width="1225" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdwAH6n0SXx_yl_PhGxSy6X2m2jge8rzRETUeyKRWLllRjqc1sMvsstQtl7SEtu_vHkrjw-XClQV0ZXHxZ-uj-e8F7dDArNeKw3RXeQiCDKTYLLhOG9P2GIovCUbsBh9sgdHD3TYFrjOGdILXkGKmAIeUVJ4mvtMETkMa7KnrmevCpV0bxzchJw_zpEeY/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day19.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2023 Topps Athletes Unlimited Blaster Box</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Until I opened up this present, I had never seen or heard of this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">product</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but according to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> it is the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first product of its kind</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> as it features the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">best athletes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">all four </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Athletes Unlimited</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> sports leagues</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">Based on their </span><a href="https://auprosports.com/who-we-are/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">website</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">, it's a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">network</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">professional sports leagues</span><span style="color: #999999;"> made up of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">elite women softball</span><span style="color: #999999;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">volleyball</span><span style="color: #999999;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">basketball</span><span style="color: #999999;">, and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">lacrosse players</span><span style="color: #999999;">. This should be an interesting break, but I might sit on this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">box</span><span style="color: #999999;"> until I can figure out who I'm looking for.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 20th</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">unopened box streak</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> continues...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMPLscVL2xWPd8fyjUq32j1ahTw17GL8kaDSMixiybFC25ZFhyphenhyphen0VwDlpfj9ocy-tQzMfbtLgZj_Bk8WfTpfMwQru7BbBtevIIyNR88gMFh6VPL7PUyKFGECuvuxL8Ve-BASS9KjJPIbhZ4EczzrDUGXMRqVjAyjNdvr-oFLds3YVhuSwEB8eWPXxNcWc/s2201/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2201" data-original-width="1385" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkMPLscVL2xWPd8fyjUq32j1ahTw17GL8kaDSMixiybFC25ZFhyphenhyphen0VwDlpfj9ocy-tQzMfbtLgZj_Bk8WfTpfMwQru7BbBtevIIyNR88gMFh6VPL7PUyKFGECuvuxL8Ve-BASS9KjJPIbhZ4EczzrDUGXMRqVjAyjNdvr-oFLds3YVhuSwEB8eWPXxNcWc/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day20.jpg" width="201" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2022/23 Topps NBL Hobby Box</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This time it's a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hobby box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">NBL</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">athletes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. If you're not familiar with the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">NBL</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, it stands for the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">National Basketball League</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> that's located in the land </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfR9iY5y94s" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><i>Down Under</i></span></a><span style="color: #999999;">. Unlike the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">two previous boxes</span><span style="color: #999999;"> that </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999;"> sent me... I think I'll add this one to my </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2020/03/unopened-box-bepop.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">unopened box collection</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">. I feel like this one will be more fun to open down the line if some of these guys eventually cross the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Pacific</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and play in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">NBA</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 21st</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box streak</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> might have come to an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">end</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">foreign sports league trend</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> continues with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">twenty-one packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2022 Epoch JLPGA</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXuHVLkpuYCtentK3jaCuwBOIZIlOI4iLYH-RdsH9W78O2dmy2XfFYCSwWTOtROFgcpofLMeGCU9NpQW886b8oRxz3fTofEzU2oB4If_yNmaUNVGy8OMKIKG0u47ObAdajjNLbSrDZwBlIuNMIWDBjalNGGMboKdQe0TlVvmNdT6Bi15Kji7INexYHE0/s2360/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2326" data-original-width="2360" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHXuHVLkpuYCtentK3jaCuwBOIZIlOI4iLYH-RdsH9W78O2dmy2XfFYCSwWTOtROFgcpofLMeGCU9NpQW886b8oRxz3fTofEzU2oB4If_yNmaUNVGy8OMKIKG0u47ObAdajjNLbSrDZwBlIuNMIWDBjalNGGMboKdQe0TlVvmNdT6Bi15Kji7INexYHE0/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day21.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Looks like there are </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">ninety cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">base set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... so there's a good chance I'll be able to complete it with these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> included these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to help me get started:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88DGx0wlvp7Vuk-4WUxwtn6Ps7rpyyxfUbfE_xyqBsLqUbWE3tsbIckVePr2SFjbd4t9my5vyEmk3ObUVgatjX9XT0cREVLqsJErh-0qufzGCW92HWKhBK7n8n6QOZxiti-OVfvWVlYGp1Nml5du3zYSiOPQeHWVCPWWJPR4HvRLZnoqec3NggFGcuTA/s1214/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day21-singles3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="1214" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj88DGx0wlvp7Vuk-4WUxwtn6Ps7rpyyxfUbfE_xyqBsLqUbWE3tsbIckVePr2SFjbd4t9my5vyEmk3ObUVgatjX9XT0cREVLqsJErh-0qufzGCW92HWKhBK7n8n6QOZxiti-OVfvWVlYGp1Nml5du3zYSiOPQeHWVCPWWJPR4HvRLZnoqec3NggFGcuTA/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day21-singles3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Here's a closer look at one of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">singles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi123MSrRge54UmXbL0Qal2CWaO6ia-L_3e8LYwoPWxNcgdkv2mxTj1nNT_OWF5iHNNR5D1ggZ1zVQ84NGZ8cfSSBT5ZmftvIrPZ5GWM8iitAAXR1iM7erXmUi11fjYrGlzQls9QcqGIGG_YM09BycSZWOung0WR9S2cRT0RU3NPG7MWi7DR98Wbme7jkQ/s1025/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day21-single.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="731" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi123MSrRge54UmXbL0Qal2CWaO6ia-L_3e8LYwoPWxNcgdkv2mxTj1nNT_OWF5iHNNR5D1ggZ1zVQ84NGZ8cfSSBT5ZmftvIrPZ5GWM8iitAAXR1iM7erXmUi11fjYrGlzQls9QcqGIGG_YM09BycSZWOung0WR9S2cRT0RU3NPG7MWi7DR98Wbme7jkQ/w143-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day21-single.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4LgDYBgc7_fUn1Nj8KC-izrBaeEVsKF604G6KJFW2aLUnClQGS7ESfrqbcQBWxdvJkaiV0UARoQ-foQ4rzs3n_0rc0Tfh4HPo3j7Mei4KbbxfSughtLrSKOC8jIuF08lSZ3jq-lzELKAdYsKAljCF7mSq0-hVkiT0lx40hsQwuZ4Qx_h_dFhc8riUTg/s1025/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day21-single2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="734" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix4LgDYBgc7_fUn1Nj8KC-izrBaeEVsKF604G6KJFW2aLUnClQGS7ESfrqbcQBWxdvJkaiV0UARoQ-foQ4rzs3n_0rc0Tfh4HPo3j7Mei4KbbxfSughtLrSKOC8jIuF08lSZ3jq-lzELKAdYsKAljCF7mSq0-hVkiT0lx40hsQwuZ4Qx_h_dFhc8riUTg/w143-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day21-single2.jpg" width="143" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2022 Epoch JLPGA Top Singles #22</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This should be a fun </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set build</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The best part is any </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">duplicates</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> will be added to my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Japanese Athlete PC</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 22nd</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> wasn't sure if I collected</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"> Garbage Pail Kids</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdkN-NXkML_SBUuQpf0jqOMrAuBvllUITFehNTkGnE0GX_bFbv2eGR-kQwrQ9t4x1sRT5BgwQAxdtMVW-YWBSfFCNJMzakVG0FsZr1cLKzvmx82fCnQik-ZJTt71m_ZfMNM82yrQCgZ9HatKsEnFthm3HDsMehPZk-mqMCxZ1krfyqPZfoyQ3Mp0HpyU/s3056/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1705" data-original-width="3056" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdkN-NXkML_SBUuQpf0jqOMrAuBvllUITFehNTkGnE0GX_bFbv2eGR-kQwrQ9t4x1sRT5BgwQAxdtMVW-YWBSfFCNJMzakVG0FsZr1cLKzvmx82fCnQik-ZJTt71m_ZfMNM82yrQCgZ9HatKsEnFthm3HDsMehPZk-mqMCxZ1krfyqPZfoyQ3Mp0HpyU/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day22.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Well... of course I do. I started buying them back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1986</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> when I spent the summer working in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Hawaii</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">uncle</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. One of the things I'd spend my money on was </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of this stuff. Unfortunately... I didn't keep them after </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">purging my collection</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">early</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2000's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiML69rvWpKlBVrrv8uZAqNj0K5Im9DbSNMtfniVVMFMTQeCCwNV2p00IVG7ZzT8kA0495Fh3Ywrn4lQOimLAryb2JorJK138Jk6v21Tt3CklB3bfQFvhA39hYJwyvV2rncsCXNjxEs7M_2JXpm1RfWfGKtTFhcK5PqM4JB7qJmuubkciNRGxw1Vr-lQ6w/s1023/cardshow-gpkbinder.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiML69rvWpKlBVrrv8uZAqNj0K5Im9DbSNMtfniVVMFMTQeCCwNV2p00IVG7ZzT8kA0495Fh3Ywrn4lQOimLAryb2JorJK138Jk6v21Tt3CklB3bfQFvhA39hYJwyvV2rncsCXNjxEs7M_2JXpm1RfWfGKtTFhcK5PqM4JB7qJmuubkciNRGxw1Vr-lQ6w/s320/cardshow-gpkbinder.jpg" width="313" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">But in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2012</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I purchased a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collection</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> at a </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2012/02/pc-addition-garbage-pail-kids.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">card show</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> for </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">under</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">$100</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and it included </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">complete sets</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Series 2</span><span style="color: #999999;">,</span><span style="color: #ffa400;">3</span><span style="color: #999999;">,</span><span style="color: #ffa400;">5</span><span style="color: #999999;">,</span><span style="color: #ffa400;">6</span><span style="color: #999999;">,</span><span style="color: #ffa400;">7</span><span style="color: #999999;">,</span><span style="color: #ffa400;">8</span><span style="color: #999999;">,</span><span style="color: #ffa400;">9</span><span style="color: #999999;">, and </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">10</span><span style="color: #999999;">. Plus a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">partial set</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Series 4</span><span style="color: #999999;"> that was only </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">missing </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">5</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> cards</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Although I haven't purchased any of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">newer products</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I look forward to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">opening up</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2022 Topps Chrome GPK Series 5</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hanger box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in hopes of finding some cool </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">refractors</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">As for the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">micro figures</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I already popped those open:<br /></span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgwxKusvpPjPy412qyUCKpeaZZzTjFwQoTi98vWn_arRz95tScUIDUff8wqmivSC0WKz6NN-0pD8THP9KhkaiD_TdCvt1lAGmUR1otFGWOCvOg5HPvyjrqrN3X-3hnZZHtZXknIFb4tuQNF6-Uo_ahyphenhyphenvOD9vTzUwEaPaYTWgooOr9CY5UfaK_EwpAg34/s1000/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day22-figures1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="790" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgwxKusvpPjPy412qyUCKpeaZZzTjFwQoTi98vWn_arRz95tScUIDUff8wqmivSC0WKz6NN-0pD8THP9KhkaiD_TdCvt1lAGmUR1otFGWOCvOg5HPvyjrqrN3X-3hnZZHtZXknIFb4tuQNF6-Uo_ahyphenhyphenvOD9vTzUwEaPaYTWgooOr9CY5UfaK_EwpAg34/w158-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day22-figures1.jpg" width="158" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_dS3MIx8d09tM8BAZ5huyv6JuNy2Xozp8bllSvJOjarxyJGyZ4co3wAnMm09Nfebjjbx5dKj6RYFCEwpXbweBKO9wRUv-s5JGc9zrdycdg9XbqcqQ2pXEl24tHN8v2yK2CWKOqRpcT-mMGVOuVagIqdAXXizaBvF8XG-vjOA0KEwPK_tCMqueWFIqJ4/s913/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day22-figures2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="723" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_dS3MIx8d09tM8BAZ5huyv6JuNy2Xozp8bllSvJOjarxyJGyZ4co3wAnMm09Nfebjjbx5dKj6RYFCEwpXbweBKO9wRUv-s5JGc9zrdycdg9XbqcqQ2pXEl24tHN8v2yK2CWKOqRpcT-mMGVOuVagIqdAXXizaBvF8XG-vjOA0KEwPK_tCMqueWFIqJ4/w158-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day22-figures2.jpg" width="158" /></a></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Each of them came with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">tiny variations</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">original cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpfs2uqcq9GXvHIGmu4RujN0LGazOm9aRrf4zBa-PojgiAabDgxyYHvuC2SGFezcCCXxs1LlcxrlakW4ZFsGu1BWJIvr0oqPfBUFUpLTC_8juQkGtRTA4MZXA9fvjdAX_NL0yYlY63xsAGRgEHIEkxNMzJ3vSD3Tl1ibqlFJwMKExo4y7qI93c7CryBM/s475/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day22-cards2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="350" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpfs2uqcq9GXvHIGmu4RujN0LGazOm9aRrf4zBa-PojgiAabDgxyYHvuC2SGFezcCCXxs1LlcxrlakW4ZFsGu1BWJIvr0oqPfBUFUpLTC_8juQkGtRTA4MZXA9fvjdAX_NL0yYlY63xsAGRgEHIEkxNMzJ3vSD3Tl1ibqlFJwMKExo4y7qI93c7CryBM/w148-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day22-cards2.jpg" width="148" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByz3UUOj7_7nSoQG9Rn5tLjsSqmsbOygcFEhrpt7a9p45FVwc1UMY_vI5f9KkvO2DOkRlVYtZhQK_uqdlzbIbfygRRYHuzcFJO9W_0INSjn6XyYFU0XUFi2Al7BzQ4NX6-S1SBJsdJSkySsRddevuUYOTrMFKwaQ18oC_waIKHRkBqh3B4xqz_yzAl4c/s475/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day22-cards2b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="475" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByz3UUOj7_7nSoQG9Rn5tLjsSqmsbOygcFEhrpt7a9p45FVwc1UMY_vI5f9KkvO2DOkRlVYtZhQK_uqdlzbIbfygRRYHuzcFJO9W_0INSjn6XyYFU0XUFi2Al7BzQ4NX6-S1SBJsdJSkySsRddevuUYOTrMFKwaQ18oC_waIKHRkBqh3B4xqz_yzAl4c/w200-h149/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day22-cards2b.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2021 Topps GPK Micro Figures Cards #3b</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQWyARPEmSgOVnmyPDMJvELiQ-kMTaqLZYtKxmgTkj0NnKShTOHChDGeLPaW4-26n6xv89idqlNjNIbRPTrZsHB6wHsgWtikWgdOg2fvcp5OrVS8bWMpx6xRIGzO0CR0YsNxNLUtNJ4tj72YozkluhuGMAlFzoLXbl8h50X5UcStO3JkvIju-1QVUCm0/s475/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day22-cards1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="347" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdQWyARPEmSgOVnmyPDMJvELiQ-kMTaqLZYtKxmgTkj0NnKShTOHChDGeLPaW4-26n6xv89idqlNjNIbRPTrZsHB6wHsgWtikWgdOg2fvcp5OrVS8bWMpx6xRIGzO0CR0YsNxNLUtNJ4tj72YozkluhuGMAlFzoLXbl8h50X5UcStO3JkvIju-1QVUCm0/w146-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day22-cards1.jpg" width="146" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbaFj-oZ9G6rhYLYaWtDxXsgnZIkfKrbNQ0H9-I-naioNAO1sTlse6YActwXWJrR7NVncxRARyNMo8PL8xuGX8ND2llCQnnO_ulsIVuq7H_VtLcQ00Fj-R0u_-dgf1PmWJ71u5uuIbPtNeRRnLU_sXREKRw_sC11qCSC2sJs7AqB4q7Ae62EHqb610bg/s475/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day22-cards1b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="475" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbaFj-oZ9G6rhYLYaWtDxXsgnZIkfKrbNQ0H9-I-naioNAO1sTlse6YActwXWJrR7NVncxRARyNMo8PL8xuGX8ND2llCQnnO_ulsIVuq7H_VtLcQ00Fj-R0u_-dgf1PmWJ71u5uuIbPtNeRRnLU_sXREKRw_sC11qCSC2sJs7AqB4q7Ae62EHqb610bg/w200-h148/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day22-cards1b.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2021 Topps GPK Micro Figures Cards #10a</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Super </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">tiny</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but super </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">nostalgic</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and super duper cool.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 23rd</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Next up are the first packs I opened in 2024:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxtAg-mFewqWJ6cbGFBc4n8iUFGDs7GP6k8UqwZq1fgKW_DPlVErI4kYGpNp1vbNQhdUwnjewuSQbJMjzZ8IgmVMxF5DwQGdGbRDJ8t2zDxYWoJ33UZh06DMijnRdvoIY8S_hhakpb0JJ5snMHOLgOZtbBNIE158gfCYDA1QQ_usnz4vYPA9d0BuBhU4/s2286/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2164" data-original-width="2286" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipxtAg-mFewqWJ6cbGFBc4n8iUFGDs7GP6k8UqwZq1fgKW_DPlVErI4kYGpNp1vbNQhdUwnjewuSQbJMjzZ8IgmVMxF5DwQGdGbRDJ8t2zDxYWoJ33UZh06DMijnRdvoIY8S_hhakpb0JJ5snMHOLgOZtbBNIE158gfCYDA1QQ_usnz4vYPA9d0BuBhU4/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day23.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand; text-align: left;"><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">2023 Topps Big League Baseball</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Ripped these open on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">January 2nd</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and pulled these:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sxAT7QgxRevEV-y1HVNBkFIuNJ-bnz3iRMYjpaFHQBVyB4_ky7hIM7khNlo0_U5RX3__qN12ZQqSQi7SUu-rJhe2qamqmcTTUb70wM0zViQXQBeGWZS5sAe_PH7DNzDFMFf15IMevb3hirfu3BbUXdCEWG70TNmh6ErGB9BHugANouaV5Rp2wWK7iXI/s2867/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day23-base.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2182" data-original-width="2867" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8sxAT7QgxRevEV-y1HVNBkFIuNJ-bnz3iRMYjpaFHQBVyB4_ky7hIM7khNlo0_U5RX3__qN12ZQqSQi7SUu-rJhe2qamqmcTTUb70wM0zViQXQBeGWZS5sAe_PH7DNzDFMFf15IMevb3hirfu3BbUXdCEWG70TNmh6ErGB9BHugANouaV5Rp2wWK7iXI/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day23-base.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ICT9wb6v_nB4BHzeMg8anmtx57321XCUrDn9RkA8zxWeAiKSiYnQ_6tadLyKBvi4TM5qXoziZiqYf5Ke9gBw7iM8ETrtF9FmybGBH9GPQF2KNm5u60rlRgViahX-0lymNR2ilAX8fgMUQFpd48fKEB6RUVUM5Vl6gpZTRLIm2vIcGZiCA9nrAQt6vww/s2096/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day23-inserts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2004" data-original-width="2096" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ICT9wb6v_nB4BHzeMg8anmtx57321XCUrDn9RkA8zxWeAiKSiYnQ_6tadLyKBvi4TM5qXoziZiqYf5Ke9gBw7iM8ETrtF9FmybGBH9GPQF2KNm5u60rlRgViahX-0lymNR2ilAX8fgMUQFpd48fKEB6RUVUM5Vl6gpZTRLIm2vIcGZiCA9nrAQt6vww/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day23-inserts.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">It was nice to pull a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Tatis</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">base card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but this was my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">favorite pull</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVgA1rj9_NILzj6SjKQr3-a2kdr8CJ602k8ss2S4DswThxIuarUrzs6bNN3UgkB9PM9WZfeAXb025ax6XnOHuVfQ2ITTJGgQHPUPibLZWoZH1BrFowuTUdtOPyHvmqx7z9dxWBT0s3HM7hAeO6WlTQB2FqN8dNdBnwJjvwcrZn-7waDgiCS7R7H23Uac/s1025/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day23-ruth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1025" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVgA1rj9_NILzj6SjKQr3-a2kdr8CJ602k8ss2S4DswThxIuarUrzs6bNN3UgkB9PM9WZfeAXb025ax6XnOHuVfQ2ITTJGgQHPUPibLZWoZH1BrFowuTUdtOPyHvmqx7z9dxWBT0s3HM7hAeO6WlTQB2FqN8dNdBnwJjvwcrZn-7waDgiCS7R7H23Uac/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day23-ruth.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2023 Topps Big League Roll Call Wildstyle #RC-13</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">While these were the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">new year</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... next up were my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">final packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2023</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">...</span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 24th</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">24th</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">present</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2022 Topps Chrome NPB</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXvMHumiyt3j_5RhzpjXeSoLHlzbuqdS2tSPzIlZXwGPg5t0ScFgRDJX3O_JWXcwNSDhyphenhypheniHox1WslaUG0ZY1kJjfHSheGdeGw_AybUqoHUG1YmnqmZqWxHBjVqLBBoDC48Ou88naPzKbvLmTNmdPRpsYJiXwOUTkCoQ4hmfYJMu7bzn71vx93ipkT0Ac/s3111/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day24-box.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3111" data-original-width="2099" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXvMHumiyt3j_5RhzpjXeSoLHlzbuqdS2tSPzIlZXwGPg5t0ScFgRDJX3O_JWXcwNSDhyphenhypheniHox1WslaUG0ZY1kJjfHSheGdeGw_AybUqoHUG1YmnqmZqWxHBjVqLBBoDC48Ou88naPzKbvLmTNmdPRpsYJiXwOUTkCoQ4hmfYJMu7bzn71vx93ipkT0Ac/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day24-box.jpg" width="216" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The actual </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was a little </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">damaged</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were just fine:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8D5t582TcAezzVxY5VjenmWwbBldJgIXCLicSrcVflInkBKZnYi47A1aWpKcsgRdKRMzRKHTFZMGIDOz8ooWNTFUsdT4HjalRWLz1g6PcZJDLpZf7Lbgn3ULlXLGa5OqIsSijE0sCD5zteB1mhhqmjZr2ApZPMpot9x_GOMbwnGx6sZ2gDEZnU95oivA/s1469/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day24.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="1469" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8D5t582TcAezzVxY5VjenmWwbBldJgIXCLicSrcVflInkBKZnYi47A1aWpKcsgRdKRMzRKHTFZMGIDOz8ooWNTFUsdT4HjalRWLz1g6PcZJDLpZf7Lbgn3ULlXLGa5OqIsSijE0sCD5zteB1mhhqmjZr2ApZPMpot9x_GOMbwnGx6sZ2gDEZnU95oivA/w400-h314/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day24.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Here are the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">inserts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I pulled:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtxmYGbXErMwRoqiMOurN2FU5vZmiVP5D5pA1PGX8BhZWrohmZgBwfzInrd4xpT5O09giFryuTXDdtlKbEjhTOpwZXNMgXNEcJxnJHtFjkRhQOU6tTaj5Bxfd0GD9zWIhNg3MgnbGwdk1lwY-JJ3Q_NOsg7wRnLZy3eJD9EUvcWa2JuEYAfePNmjieRI/s1701/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day24-inserts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1701" data-original-width="1221" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYtxmYGbXErMwRoqiMOurN2FU5vZmiVP5D5pA1PGX8BhZWrohmZgBwfzInrd4xpT5O09giFryuTXDdtlKbEjhTOpwZXNMgXNEcJxnJHtFjkRhQOU6tTaj5Bxfd0GD9zWIhNg3MgnbGwdk1lwY-JJ3Q_NOsg7wRnLZy3eJD9EUvcWa2JuEYAfePNmjieRI/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day24-inserts.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I recognize </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Masataka Yoshida</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">middle</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">), but it looks like the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hit of the box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZKQDqcAn5kirmfkyIYNVhz1sfueepIeKiIAHOJRHSqAKlqKi79f-8xw7MjJ9OZ6hemIxL9WosBpMeYyHiIQY1cEAOS5jKwLkItVccu5fZmpv3LSnG76iyIn9IqCVjbZMytCbcLIuIkp-YkftARl-C_mjA2Rz2LDcvFqJ7bnBwTwxridJY53_wWvOo1A/s1025/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day24-murakami.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="736" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZKQDqcAn5kirmfkyIYNVhz1sfueepIeKiIAHOJRHSqAKlqKi79f-8xw7MjJ9OZ6hemIxL9WosBpMeYyHiIQY1cEAOS5jKwLkItVccu5fZmpv3LSnG76iyIn9IqCVjbZMytCbcLIuIkp-YkftARl-C_mjA2Rz2LDcvFqJ7bnBwTwxridJY53_wWvOo1A/w144-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day24-murakami.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAG59JRVF4EZRIi-DwN8XlNtxf0_NAGuzcaWsb6bgZ58RTIA9Ntbty3qYPs_aw6S1Pt57Cxm2nBx6y_DGtJCf1XaFvobuHzCDC4KQOHeJtMuQUctk7mME3nUvtkiYDRnzSxCJwsG5s0tvsGZDfzWf22OpFi4LzWNq5VrZGyrrA0mvoLN2xxp5S-_e7C4E/s1025/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day24-murakami2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1025" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAG59JRVF4EZRIi-DwN8XlNtxf0_NAGuzcaWsb6bgZ58RTIA9Ntbty3qYPs_aw6S1Pt57Cxm2nBx6y_DGtJCf1XaFvobuHzCDC4KQOHeJtMuQUctk7mME3nUvtkiYDRnzSxCJwsG5s0tvsGZDfzWf22OpFi4LzWNq5VrZGyrrA0mvoLN2xxp5S-_e7C4E/w200-h141/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day24-murakami2.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2022 Topps Chrome NPB 1958 Gold Refractor #58-20 (#'d 37/50)</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">As much as I enjoy </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collecting </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">NPB</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I don't really know much about their </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">players</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">. This is one of the exceptions. The </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-unique-vendor-some-buyers-remorse.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">card show dealer</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> with those </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Godzilla</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999;"> told me about him and his ability to hit the long ball. The only problem is if he does eventually play in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">MLB</span><span style="color: #999999;">, it won't be for several years. I guess the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">waiting game</span><span style="color: #999999;"> begins now.</span></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: large;">December 25th</span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4O1vPUB1YOaDOWYBIMwVEeQIZ-K86WvhyphenhyphensdXr3G2d3nE076rrCVP2Av35awX-isMVZWagFYPlFOonZqw0c7jrW7QiUSPPeTne7v_nDxW2NI_l7pTunfTNJjKe9DzwvuQ3Y24U-_xIgR1boAv3DkoPPxoY_cctNidm5ZPNefmATL789yme2aIaaqGZ_I/s1500/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day25.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1062" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4O1vPUB1YOaDOWYBIMwVEeQIZ-K86WvhyphenhyphensdXr3G2d3nE076rrCVP2Av35awX-isMVZWagFYPlFOonZqw0c7jrW7QiUSPPeTne7v_nDxW2NI_l7pTunfTNJjKe9DzwvuQ3Y24U-_xIgR1boAv3DkoPPxoY_cctNidm5ZPNefmATL789yme2aIaaqGZ_I/w284-h400/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day25.jpg" width="284" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>Japanese Beastie Boys Hello Nasty Advertisement</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Many of you know that I'm a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">huge </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Beastie Boys</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> fan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, so this is quite the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Christmas</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">present</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I've never seen this before, but I love that it combines my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">interest in the group</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">heritage</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN149f49MduVcQGOtYEm0xwGkGr5jtT15Oqyp-wzOEaW4OkRJG5OXoe__jnlhZiQ76jqw0UqFa1Fc3oSZyNMsxDUkto7kAsYvL2Ip-baEgIlTWOzqfbJpzbaOrJ72XICWqFb5-KpzElhqgZdDynz_cDrNFCsY1Wq1VM2UyfQaUncITx02w3VdOvTaAhE8/s1500/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day25b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1065" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN149f49MduVcQGOtYEm0xwGkGr5jtT15Oqyp-wzOEaW4OkRJG5OXoe__jnlhZiQ76jqw0UqFa1Fc3oSZyNMsxDUkto7kAsYvL2Ip-baEgIlTWOzqfbJpzbaOrJ72XICWqFb5-KpzElhqgZdDynz_cDrNFCsY1Wq1VM2UyfQaUncITx02w3VdOvTaAhE8/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day25b.jpg" width="227" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">It's printed on </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">glossy poster paper</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with the following measurements: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">7.125"</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> x </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">10.125"</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Not exactly sure how these were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">distributed</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> thinks these were passed out at their </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">concert</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Osaka</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1999</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. If so... that's pretty flippin' awesome.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Not </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">100%</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sure how I'm going to display it... but this is way too cool to be tucked away in a binder somewhere. I'll figure out something.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Holy smokes. That was a ton of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">fun</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">. But like I stated at the start of the post... </span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">all good things must come to an end</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">. As </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">bloggers</span><span style="color: #999999;">, we're constantly reminded by the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">extreme generosity</span><span style="color: #999999;"> passed around our </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">community</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">collectors</span><span style="color: #999999;">. This </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">custom built advent calendar</span><span style="color: #999999;"> is just another reminder.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Thank you</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for putting this together for me. I truly appreciate the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">time</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">effort</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">money</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> you put into such a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">generous care package</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Looking forward to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">getting together soon</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">catching up</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Tuesday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-47618156672113252972024-01-13T18:00:00.000-08:002024-01-13T18:00:00.360-08:00The Weekend Sort<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Woke up early on this cold, but lovely </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three day weekend</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and finally caught up on my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blogroll</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. There are hundreds of posts that I missed during </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2023</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but I've accepted the fact that I need to let those go and focus on the present.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'm still catching up on some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">care packages</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that were delivered as far back as </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">five months ago</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">. Normally I'd check them off chronologically... but outside of </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF8iUMXLkWGp9PSM82IUi4w" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Ryan's</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">advent calendar</span><span style="color: #999999;">... I'm saving some of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">larger boxes</span><span style="color: #999999;"> for the end. This decision primarily has to do with time... and right now it's easier to summarize a </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">PWE</span><span style="color: #999999;"> or </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">padded envelope</span><span style="color: #999999;"> than a medium or large </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">flat rate mailer</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Luckily the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">holiday weekend</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> allows me to lock myself in my office, open some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">packages</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sort some cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Today I wanted to focus on </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">a few </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">sets</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I'm working on and show you all the help I've received from a </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">pair</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">bloggers</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Let's start off with my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2002 Topps Archives</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set build</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE64Nyliwso8yljZGLDqmcebwrMDToM8HJP0ds9rP8P2f6HPsuhpI9eFGtqnWDLXB-nY_A3NArz-16HFTIaNnQ86VWgFZPMHtblERboLgCHKQSQF19MJwmzwituL1NMSupdvC9FCVcbeaCwOSGOwYbrR-ug8S4wuFLjl2QDmC8esYSAvHYC04vliZ0RLw/s1025/gcrl-2023-archives1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="734" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE64Nyliwso8yljZGLDqmcebwrMDToM8HJP0ds9rP8P2f6HPsuhpI9eFGtqnWDLXB-nY_A3NArz-16HFTIaNnQ86VWgFZPMHtblERboLgCHKQSQF19MJwmzwituL1NMSupdvC9FCVcbeaCwOSGOwYbrR-ug8S4wuFLjl2QDmC8esYSAvHYC04vliZ0RLw/s320/gcrl-2023-archives1.jpg" width="229" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2002 Topps Archives #169</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I've always wanted to own this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and over the summer, I found a cheap </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">starter set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> at the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">flea market</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Jim</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> over at </span><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://cardsasiseethem.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><b><i>cards as i see them</i></b></span></a> </span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">sent me a package that crossed off </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">four set needs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> which included a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1977 Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">reprint</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">favorite player</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Steve Garvey</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Here are the other </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set build</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMB4X1Zyl1Wv8Qokl58VqD_yTgDZKZkoM5fOKcpXFn2nyz0P2GmqVZYvRrydE-Han0qYxRGmkMKPLOYTQHsevktEVYBHMNVvOMyDVn4TUEFhMcO0mjATaodMboJ7nuxMU2h41wFeC_oiGYxwqEqWT5A2HaoxW_VmiRcDzOgRZGw_Cs73Zy0tmEwzzE-gc/s2416/gcrl-2023-archives2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="2416" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMB4X1Zyl1Wv8Qokl58VqD_yTgDZKZkoM5fOKcpXFn2nyz0P2GmqVZYvRrydE-Han0qYxRGmkMKPLOYTQHsevktEVYBHMNVvOMyDVn4TUEFhMcO0mjATaodMboJ7nuxMU2h41wFeC_oiGYxwqEqWT5A2HaoxW_VmiRcDzOgRZGw_Cs73Zy0tmEwzzE-gc/w400-h183/gcrl-2023-archives2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">These </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">four cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> bring me </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2%</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">closer</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">completion</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">...</span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RY9KbqTqN2eVEve4_UyfBLY7EwL303aJVVZv2bkS7hg_Yb6BSZ4xfEUkkU1vV_UggrUu4tUh2Gi_i1fWDTcjApnTx2EXpzVWbOzAhVHcsttapQksV0CsqsuV60b-d2PAt8fR9gg3sj6VPSyZpypfgQXhiO9wQ3ShW8m9CqxWvYZcaozkig3hVk6B9SY/s813/set-build-2002-archives.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="813" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RY9KbqTqN2eVEve4_UyfBLY7EwL303aJVVZv2bkS7hg_Yb6BSZ4xfEUkkU1vV_UggrUu4tUh2Gi_i1fWDTcjApnTx2EXpzVWbOzAhVHcsttapQksV0CsqsuV60b-d2PAt8fR9gg3sj6VPSyZpypfgQXhiO9wQ3ShW8m9CqxWvYZcaozkig3hVk6B9SY/s320/set-build-2002-archives.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Unfortunately... this is one of those </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set builds</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that will probably take me a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">decade </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">to complete unless I start finding these pop up in </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">dime boxes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> at the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">local shows</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Before I show off the rest of the</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Jim</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sent my way... here are </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">a few other sets</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I've been working on recently...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CUeWEsIvg7q_RlOTq4O9ZUjnfCO2ZP-G0SuTJm5IHEeitC3qOE82Sa9vkOoUqObUjB-AeNvZN9fgiyPhK8gOJV0KVW8Xs_MxOVw2JPFZb1BfNwD6U_hO1RyAUVG2K4nl2TWcD7nVDcEbRtlxcl-hdPq4WHsFewFwldzC7pn_wKdbsLhcHGQ1PZ6K6Pc/s902/set-build-1993-flintstones.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="902" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0CUeWEsIvg7q_RlOTq4O9ZUjnfCO2ZP-G0SuTJm5IHEeitC3qOE82Sa9vkOoUqObUjB-AeNvZN9fgiyPhK8gOJV0KVW8Xs_MxOVw2JPFZb1BfNwD6U_hO1RyAUVG2K4nl2TWcD7nVDcEbRtlxcl-hdPq4WHsFewFwldzC7pn_wKdbsLhcHGQ1PZ6K6Pc/s320/set-build-1993-flintstones.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Over the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Christmas</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">break</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I found a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of these </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">NFL Flintstones</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sitting in a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Rubbermaid</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">tub</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I hopped on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">eBay</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to see if I could find some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cheap lots</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and discovered a vendor with the f</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">our inserts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for a reasonable price.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJHkuHyezPiChYGcPwynuMdGI2eUMQf1xivaHDxS0-bH8CPgCClh1Dsm-J6DefBuM4T6NALz7mLw2kIe9GiomBuXovLDenWCjE4dNcSqzM5L4FMORplppCgPWMgiag7TxUpb0AoTMv-ponAkUOL-jXc1jNKZ8bnqMpbaeuGscdGVNc33gQEva18XGR1M/s2400/1993-cardz-flintstones-holograms.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1098" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJHkuHyezPiChYGcPwynuMdGI2eUMQf1xivaHDxS0-bH8CPgCClh1Dsm-J6DefBuM4T6NALz7mLw2kIe9GiomBuXovLDenWCjE4dNcSqzM5L4FMORplppCgPWMgiag7TxUpb0AoTMv-ponAkUOL-jXc1jNKZ8bnqMpbaeuGscdGVNc33gQEva18XGR1M/s320/1993-cardz-flintstones-holograms.jpg" width="146" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1993 Cardz NFL The Flintstones Hologram #H1, H2, & H3</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9e4qJgK2pbTmZApnmT0j2VFKaOS8O16m-2zTnfUzWJIErktw3Q41plCCacoeToFvB_XK8nnleXrxKDQYhH0GnmTImtaTuxSoqGT_F9KMzC-NTMU1c3OeMbD3mmsZs8CV7KsscaUYfn-1Up6HenYeX2BwBl5gn3T7nMxTasekB15MLsSjG_JAhlBIBaA/s2400/1993-cardz-flintstones-holograms2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="2400" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX9e4qJgK2pbTmZApnmT0j2VFKaOS8O16m-2zTnfUzWJIErktw3Q41plCCacoeToFvB_XK8nnleXrxKDQYhH0GnmTImtaTuxSoqGT_F9KMzC-NTMU1c3OeMbD3mmsZs8CV7KsscaUYfn-1Up6HenYeX2BwBl5gn3T7nMxTasekB15MLsSjG_JAhlBIBaA/s320/1993-cardz-flintstones-holograms2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The vendor forgot to include </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dallas Cowboys Tekchrome</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but he said he'd ship one out </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">next week</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">A separate </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">eBay</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">purchase</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> helped me get </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">four steps closer</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">completing</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1982 TCMA Baseball's Greatest</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set build</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUlsCtuzMlPbWkCjsxjXQNDdS0EXWDZahj03qDhFvIEqOavbLuL7FUy30dqzjI3b9wQUBDYaOA31paalwYIb0ZX9akWtuNjMGD4wT_meTrP646G1Ywn0__o9kmBR1sgZL5vY_Mza-ls0Gmq4a4vAc0DuGXQDWBCBvrRSoigY1JSmhcyvtgzIZl1MbBUQ/s2225/set-build-1982-tcma2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2225" data-original-width="1604" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmUlsCtuzMlPbWkCjsxjXQNDdS0EXWDZahj03qDhFvIEqOavbLuL7FUy30dqzjI3b9wQUBDYaOA31paalwYIb0ZX9akWtuNjMGD4wT_meTrP646G1Ywn0__o9kmBR1sgZL5vY_Mza-ls0Gmq4a4vAc0DuGXQDWBCBvrRSoigY1JSmhcyvtgzIZl1MbBUQ/w289-h400/set-build-1982-tcma2.jpg" width="289" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2020/03/the-right-moment.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Four years ago</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">, I received a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">huge care package</span><span style="color: #999999;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Woody</span><span style="color: #999999;"> over at </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Sports Card Forum</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and inside was this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">starter set</span><span style="color: #999999;">. That year </span><a href="https://pennysleevethoughts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Jon</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> helped me out by sending me the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Jimmie Foxx</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXaraX8PwqjS_G2ed4v1Du_yeojy4wX79HZFb2b2NX4zVf6wBK0zhDvAKePnu8bUyx7e6K6Vg-VHMuc3worW0JZp2Nd_U4VQRT7-R1laIY3-kFuOzop2g37Oe-coV1L6liM582-G62ysOWoUa5ygURacEU_Iky2XYSLkRteEVLkdVLfSQPbipZlK-Fgg/s808/set-build-1982-tcma.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="555" data-original-width="808" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSXaraX8PwqjS_G2ed4v1Du_yeojy4wX79HZFb2b2NX4zVf6wBK0zhDvAKePnu8bUyx7e6K6Vg-VHMuc3worW0JZp2Nd_U4VQRT7-R1laIY3-kFuOzop2g37Oe-coV1L6liM582-G62ysOWoUa5ygURacEU_Iky2XYSLkRteEVLkdVLfSQPbipZlK-Fgg/w400-h275/set-build-1982-tcma.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'm down to needing only </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... both of which were part of my most recent </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">COMC</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">shipment</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that should arrive by </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">early </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">February</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">And the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">final set build</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for this post is another one of those </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sets</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that may or may not ever be completed:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8WOZ2V5aIhTiYyVXqfubsDKaKsYQJg8dhsADNL-1fh5Q2wsaujJI9AYcD3Am4qus5VEliMaUlcszf7c2XlmP0V_NFdAT4DWyil8Mcej6ApsMFQb022zvQQstRisb7jkXdRi8JdEjW6693IlbM6Xcs7Qcx8Va1GqkBACHsHtF5hFbhXUbcUX958wmlIs/s831/tmv-2023-enforcers3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="831" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT8WOZ2V5aIhTiYyVXqfubsDKaKsYQJg8dhsADNL-1fh5Q2wsaujJI9AYcD3Am4qus5VEliMaUlcszf7c2XlmP0V_NFdAT4DWyil8Mcej6ApsMFQb022zvQQstRisb7jkXdRi8JdEjW6693IlbM6Xcs7Qcx8Va1GqkBACHsHtF5hFbhXUbcUX958wmlIs/w400-h350/tmv-2023-enforcers3.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2011-12 ITG Enforcers Autograph</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">monster set build</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that I started over a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">decade</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> ago. It contains </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">85</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and I'm lucky to add </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">a few cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> at a time.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">A few months ago</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dennis</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> over at </span><b><i><a href="https://toomanycg.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Too Many Verlanders</span></a></i></b><span style="color: #999999;"> sent me these</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> two cards</span><span style="color: #999999;"> for my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">set</span><span style="color: #999999;">:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNui9ebyjnJJMhv-JnN6iji76vAtCFMeAV4RcJ6oOJALzrLHMswuaZDyPSa8X0PszCyz07awQPfcox8JsWpUhEb88V49dD5Zac-aLPuXEEFlFKQjWDtatIIuo8p4e_xxcoF5YvA2O_UhiFELX4AiiviEViYgI2ahCNbqHzdNGL2xtwCL2Qm5nXCFrOVA/s1025/tmv-2023-enforcers1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="740" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNui9ebyjnJJMhv-JnN6iji76vAtCFMeAV4RcJ6oOJALzrLHMswuaZDyPSa8X0PszCyz07awQPfcox8JsWpUhEb88V49dD5Zac-aLPuXEEFlFKQjWDtatIIuo8p4e_xxcoF5YvA2O_UhiFELX4AiiviEViYgI2ahCNbqHzdNGL2xtwCL2Qm5nXCFrOVA/w144-h200/tmv-2023-enforcers1.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FmUEW8GCVafP_dqsj5S4s03f0D8ZMXvGYS1fz3KG-CyWPPhAvhM7tNbaiL4Uep_woAG91me1a48pLo42mZni7W20vwMFYagXSPMVoRPcDDvRFaa5QH4VHyrBRj4k7IzcgSwRM1hGqjdmSCNqZ-CI7pPPWYwOEoWTru_kN71Ihyphenhyphenvy7xOzzgSBmxFuBIg/s1025/tmv-2023-enforcers2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="740" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FmUEW8GCVafP_dqsj5S4s03f0D8ZMXvGYS1fz3KG-CyWPPhAvhM7tNbaiL4Uep_woAG91me1a48pLo42mZni7W20vwMFYagXSPMVoRPcDDvRFaa5QH4VHyrBRj4k7IzcgSwRM1hGqjdmSCNqZ-CI7pPPWYwOEoWTru_kN71Ihyphenhyphenvy7xOzzgSBmxFuBIg/w144-h200/tmv-2023-enforcers2.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2011-12 In The Game Enforcers Auto #A-GB & A-MB</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I need to do a better job of monitoring </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cheap singles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set build</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but currently the cheapest one on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">COMC</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is over </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$6</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. If I only needed a handful of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">complete this set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I'd dish out the money. But I've accepted I won't be </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">completing this set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> anytime soon.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Getting back to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Jim's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">care package</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Here are </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">nine other cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> he tossed into the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">padded envelope</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCDU9asYrTMyFW0qm_OkuMPIXw8o1Kvomllkak19GBFeNMghyphenhyphenAxpAh00YOJy7Hp_u4vpNJACYqpIL8DymdaDpXLfQINnN-rTKqcvgh2yhoEzbgODOo4GtsTkHNnaLJglahVW52yPNGwzWB2VSU-exftYwJh0lnElOMbsQuwSvqxygbKTB0szaUUSLD0A/s1675/gcrl-2023-9-pocket.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1675" data-original-width="1207" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCDU9asYrTMyFW0qm_OkuMPIXw8o1Kvomllkak19GBFeNMghyphenhyphenAxpAh00YOJy7Hp_u4vpNJACYqpIL8DymdaDpXLfQINnN-rTKqcvgh2yhoEzbgODOo4GtsTkHNnaLJglahVW52yPNGwzWB2VSU-exftYwJh0lnElOMbsQuwSvqxygbKTB0szaUUSLD0A/w289-h400/gcrl-2023-9-pocket.jpg" width="289" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Seven</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of these were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">brand new</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collection</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... including the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Gwynns</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on top. I was especially excited to see that </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Topps Chrome Heart of the City</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">insert</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Matt Olson</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I'm not </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">100%</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sure, but I think that's </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Jack London Square</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> featured with </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Olson</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">last card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> he included was the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">newest addition</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Damaged Card PC</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFFKKjbfo10dYBoWMcZ21J5FZO_ZKEicxADvdugBtsN9giXX182V5B8gUoW4lZhlb5d6847Tng8eXr_1W1T4eMmUh969OzL_-SRXRvgHWOzRXoFnzwGhMFkexiporfVrpbsrr_mQsuQaF4uFTTgUguqSSnixKzaLIhoyP7AZ5Ir4sz0Zoctp8rONjAUM/s1050/gcrl-2023-damaged-kershaw.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="758" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFFKKjbfo10dYBoWMcZ21J5FZO_ZKEicxADvdugBtsN9giXX182V5B8gUoW4lZhlb5d6847Tng8eXr_1W1T4eMmUh969OzL_-SRXRvgHWOzRXoFnzwGhMFkexiporfVrpbsrr_mQsuQaF4uFTTgUguqSSnixKzaLIhoyP7AZ5Ir4sz0Zoctp8rONjAUM/s320/gcrl-2023-damaged-kershaw.jpg" width="231" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2009 UD Spectrum Red #53 (#'d 208/250)</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">shiny parallel</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was originally featured on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Jim's</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> <a href="https://cardsasiseethem.blogspot.com/2022/10/things-done-to-card-boxes-and-as-result.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">blog</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">2022</span><span style="color: #999999;"> when it was involved in a </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">USPS</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">mishap</span><span style="color: #999999;">. If you look closely you'll notice it has some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">creases</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">soft corner</span><span style="color: #999999;">. The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">card design</span><span style="color: #999999;"> isn't the greatest... but it's a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">relatively low serial numbered card</span><span style="color: #999999;"> that depicts </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Kershaw</span><span style="color: #999999;"> at the plate.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> now resides with other </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">damaged cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">9</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">-pocket page</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... where it will be loved, appreciated, and cared for.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Thank you</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> <a href="https://cardsasiseethem.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Jim</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> and </span><a href="https://toomanycg.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Dennis</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> for helping me with these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">set builds</span><span style="color: #999999;">!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Oh and before I forget, I wanted to quickly share this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blog inspired purchase</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcK24rbML7tDGtDYfQpJsT8lO_fnd_dcv0jmu-wId0tceMvYghyphenhyphenSfjZCnPo7PJK1c2fmdEtWhoiahmiLSxn-lWE7eyAyv2-y9-I1-72FcN6T4vc1EKJkLohrtE5KPEmst6Fj2uucttM1kvUS-KelhVgWe2PWf_46dbwurPga7H83GEo76Qqvu-Qlka3E/s1025/96t-opening-day-ted-williams.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="735" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjcK24rbML7tDGtDYfQpJsT8lO_fnd_dcv0jmu-wId0tceMvYghyphenhyphenSfjZCnPo7PJK1c2fmdEtWhoiahmiLSxn-lWE7eyAyv2-y9-I1-72FcN6T4vc1EKJkLohrtE5KPEmst6Fj2uucttM1kvUS-KelhVgWe2PWf_46dbwurPga7H83GEo76Qqvu-Qlka3E/s320/96t-opening-day-ted-williams.jpg" width="229" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1996 Topps Ted Williams Opening Day #9</i></b></span></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Rvfs7g_g36tWCgFzlr7jV0uJjPhnLq5j11K_onxFUZ84ceRF0oNqv2AGZ9uQ4DyGkG2b82sB2UnGN0un0iiDMLBeMws3-jlh6bh4RJ3IJRDw8SX1ydqk1qfi23-xtDESdoyPbmncBMCb6WXprFKHa66aZzHdasSIS8dB8VVXr3mg0FXpc8ErOteVtmg/s1025/96t-opening-day-ted-williams2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1025" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Rvfs7g_g36tWCgFzlr7jV0uJjPhnLq5j11K_onxFUZ84ceRF0oNqv2AGZ9uQ4DyGkG2b82sB2UnGN0un0iiDMLBeMws3-jlh6bh4RJ3IJRDw8SX1ydqk1qfi23-xtDESdoyPbmncBMCb6WXprFKHa66aZzHdasSIS8dB8VVXr3mg0FXpc8ErOteVtmg/s320/96t-opening-day-ted-williams2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">produced</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> by </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">commemorate the opening</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ted Williams Tunnel</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Boston</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> back on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">12/15/95</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. He shared this</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> card </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">on his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blog</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> <a href="https://cardsasiseethem.blogspot.com/2023/12/my-retired-number-collection-dressed-to.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">a few weeks ago</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> as part of his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">retired number collection series</span><span style="color: #999999;">. I had never seen or heard about this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">card</span><span style="color: #999999;"> before that</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> post</span><span style="color: #999999;">, but apparently </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">collectors</span><span style="color: #999999;"> could </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">purchase a copy directly</span><span style="color: #999999;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Topps</span><span style="color: #999999;"> that year. Anyways... that morning I went over to </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">eBay</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and picked up </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">a few copies</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">That wraps up </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">another post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I hope all of you have a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">safe holiday weekend</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Saturday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: x-large;">Extra Innings</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE64Nyliwso8yljZGLDqmcebwrMDToM8HJP0ds9rP8P2f6HPsuhpI9eFGtqnWDLXB-nY_A3NArz-16HFTIaNnQ86VWgFZPMHtblERboLgCHKQSQF19MJwmzwituL1NMSupdvC9FCVcbeaCwOSGOwYbrR-ug8S4wuFLjl2QDmC8esYSAvHYC04vliZ0RLw/s1025/gcrl-2023-archives1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="734" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE64Nyliwso8yljZGLDqmcebwrMDToM8HJP0ds9rP8P2f6HPsuhpI9eFGtqnWDLXB-nY_A3NArz-16HFTIaNnQ86VWgFZPMHtblERboLgCHKQSQF19MJwmzwituL1NMSupdvC9FCVcbeaCwOSGOwYbrR-ug8S4wuFLjl2QDmC8esYSAvHYC04vliZ0RLw/s320/gcrl-2023-archives1.jpg" width="229" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br style="text-align: center;" /></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I almost forgot... the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">reason</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I led this post off with </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Steve Garvey</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is because </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">on this date</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> back in </span><a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-14-sp-36173-story.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">1988</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">... he </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">announced his retirement from baseball</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div></div></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-22310598909666732462024-01-09T15:00:00.000-08:002024-01-09T15:00:00.142-08:00Things Are Taking Off<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKmUL4mmCHYB5uajGpRhx-ryXl5uidfZhlAw8TiNNvLGEhSLJYpjGFb9cy2rIb9xGzcczDbxZkxOrxWEk9R7DgIWM0uLhoCF5Grt5TY_fKbJ9sW4ONecpOtMvxd8lSlOfj_n63X4W5izgYGOyNnYqjWW7pmGzPFZKuR5pxZCgYqPMPu1MpGMqfwWf7Gk/s1025/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-robinson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="1025" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKmUL4mmCHYB5uajGpRhx-ryXl5uidfZhlAw8TiNNvLGEhSLJYpjGFb9cy2rIb9xGzcczDbxZkxOrxWEk9R7DgIWM0uLhoCF5Grt5TY_fKbJ9sW4ONecpOtMvxd8lSlOfj_n63X4W5izgYGOyNnYqjWW7pmGzPFZKuR5pxZCgYqPMPu1MpGMqfwWf7Gk/w320-h205/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-robinson.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">If you're into </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">unique collectibles</span><span style="color: #999999;"> like this </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Frank Robinson</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">hotel key card</span><span style="color: #999999;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Japanese</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">anime</span><span style="color: #999999;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">video game cards</span><span style="color: #999999;">, or </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">baseball stamps</span><span style="color: #999999;">... then you'll enjoy this round of </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF8iUMXLkWGp9PSM82IUi4w" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Ryan's</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">awesome advent calendar</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 13th</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Let's blast off with some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">space stuff</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBRujY2m4W5XSQd15k4AQ2lUwsAbnUZ68AMEsMV2BJzLuqvSvR9NjC-cxC8IRmSw3oeEsRcBEuwjM2piJnuAMS94ewOYhQ99n5PkRD2evq6ou1waQqIvbCFAKQQfjnPV3yQA19rgA0lf2xP4eFwPJY1s-3-SWL3AR3TfXVgNfqO_kV8CJQfdAEVCpy78/s2399/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2399" data-original-width="598" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBRujY2m4W5XSQd15k4AQ2lUwsAbnUZ68AMEsMV2BJzLuqvSvR9NjC-cxC8IRmSw3oeEsRcBEuwjM2piJnuAMS94ewOYhQ99n5PkRD2evq6ou1waQqIvbCFAKQQfjnPV3yQA19rgA0lf2xP4eFwPJY1s-3-SWL3AR3TfXVgNfqO_kV8CJQfdAEVCpy78/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day13.jpg" width="80" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05F68HvG8bV1OagkcK51N-yUMxonk6yfdsRAaISHlp7VfxZBjsfKMW369rvjKl0Nv8GIL_p2XU27gmOgH1Hzk-o2mayZRiisn8foRoSgGQSigA5rDfldo_6PdQZe5RQB8RxwjB377KoqD3rPRMvXBY24sO6O0ncT7DBOt_tpVcEC4KLU4YLJ8w1YzQ3Y/s1340/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day13b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1340" data-original-width="445" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05F68HvG8bV1OagkcK51N-yUMxonk6yfdsRAaISHlp7VfxZBjsfKMW369rvjKl0Nv8GIL_p2XU27gmOgH1Hzk-o2mayZRiisn8foRoSgGQSigA5rDfldo_6PdQZe5RQB8RxwjB377KoqD3rPRMvXBY24sO6O0ncT7DBOt_tpVcEC4KLU4YLJ8w1YzQ3Y/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day13b.jpg" width="106" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>U.S. Naval Research Laboratory Bookmarks</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Growing up in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">80's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... watching </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">space shuttle launches</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was kind of a big deal. That's why I'm always intrigued by </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">NASA</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> related </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collectibles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. My collection is pretty small... but I have </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">patches</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Lego</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sets</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">postage stamps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">8x10's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and of course </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">trading cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Here are </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">fourteen new additions</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8vTTnPXKtrgKNh2CC1VBOyprxov-BzzpmDwYshcjYoCP6SZzrN-ndWnRreWA0OEq82g_IqibpidIcpV8LOFqYmvfifKU0nHH4YDaqUObjsf2Z6DGM81sXCMrH9wBIf-1wWKGTcK9AmcizulBs86U2LZpYdptFgbl7-mqdVUZxMb0RqWr0ENSf7Col1M/s1675/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day13c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1675" data-original-width="1208" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8vTTnPXKtrgKNh2CC1VBOyprxov-BzzpmDwYshcjYoCP6SZzrN-ndWnRreWA0OEq82g_IqibpidIcpV8LOFqYmvfifKU0nHH4YDaqUObjsf2Z6DGM81sXCMrH9wBIf-1wWKGTcK9AmcizulBs86U2LZpYdptFgbl7-mqdVUZxMb0RqWr0ENSf7Col1M/w144-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day13c.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0_OZU6GpICpfYT1Xr5jUr1-PcPfbzEtAR6c8xqMiAPP1HHL1Y33u7oXySGwCgUE2Oq2HEy9vq673r0HEu-8hObRMde74SZQt0g5KS_J_ig1NkxyH3-SaaDkViMVhoqumoyr8eOC6YX8S9xwY20tG7gbwEke8oOom3rRW0aKKPDibJ0xkAwwB24diBys/s1675/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day13d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1675" data-original-width="1208" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD0_OZU6GpICpfYT1Xr5jUr1-PcPfbzEtAR6c8xqMiAPP1HHL1Y33u7oXySGwCgUE2Oq2HEy9vq673r0HEu-8hObRMde74SZQt0g5KS_J_ig1NkxyH3-SaaDkViMVhoqumoyr8eOC6YX8S9xwY20tG7gbwEke8oOom3rRW0aKKPDibJ0xkAwwB24diBys/w144-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day13d.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-CTaFCho9GzNi_gZskG5X0MN6s-p7wpOYpPtrWv038Psr9kXz8rFH60toNH1ePtU6a_GatQxdqjszGhw92xUhkA1x9TK-SxKGDeXL0uYAB1_PuJ-tJSBAKgj8ahYK_AUiRjKiHHASu63IWE-yu4MWkApPgkhOKiFejKsPOQJEASbKdJKMm_2ECs0mmg/s1675/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day13e.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1675" data-original-width="1199" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu-CTaFCho9GzNi_gZskG5X0MN6s-p7wpOYpPtrWv038Psr9kXz8rFH60toNH1ePtU6a_GatQxdqjszGhw92xUhkA1x9TK-SxKGDeXL0uYAB1_PuJ-tJSBAKgj8ahYK_AUiRjKiHHASu63IWE-yu4MWkApPgkhOKiFejKsPOQJEASbKdJKMm_2ECs0mmg/w143-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day13e.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbfwGmoKFodMhu-Z3HrUjA2MSt-COeCg7HNzKPwA96Fi237npFcJFYXwrVvF26B7Qjvl_3Mqwb_PYHXvRk34YA16ZqcgudovQmZHVG5KevV_DTjt_aD8NUB-TXv9Utwoh9wsPru7mL_moGr7yj2tpZaa9GVzF33dZLa5vaYNLeABajVqWXkH4sjKyrfE/s1675/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day13f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1675" data-original-width="1209" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbfwGmoKFodMhu-Z3HrUjA2MSt-COeCg7HNzKPwA96Fi237npFcJFYXwrVvF26B7Qjvl_3Mqwb_PYHXvRk34YA16ZqcgudovQmZHVG5KevV_DTjt_aD8NUB-TXv9Utwoh9wsPru7mL_moGr7yj2tpZaa9GVzF33dZLa5vaYNLeABajVqWXkH4sjKyrfE/w144-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day13f.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">It's kind of funny, because my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Christmas</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">care package</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> included several </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">space related items</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> too. <i>Great minds, right?</i></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 14th</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />For every minute I spent </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sorting cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> as a kid, I spent almost the same amount of time playing </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">video games</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. This carried over into the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">90's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLptITNYGpj5ayEZgoa_c2w_9sZqqZKWQPPFN8eG63-z9eB1Nb9lyQ_zDB_e8E5_HazsZwTXQeUGMRoTfxv-pj21897eLGDvsVyH3_YjxhIBM_BS4Yk08IH04Q13doHkds8AYhVo78o6HwrDWqhNiucEhzKhlRRUWwxKXOfEVa6FUR4DxwFq4R-9u__M/s1600/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="912" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVLptITNYGpj5ayEZgoa_c2w_9sZqqZKWQPPFN8eG63-z9eB1Nb9lyQ_zDB_e8E5_HazsZwTXQeUGMRoTfxv-pj21897eLGDvsVyH3_YjxhIBM_BS4Yk08IH04Q13doHkds8AYhVo78o6HwrDWqhNiucEhzKhlRRUWwxKXOfEVa6FUR4DxwFq4R-9u__M/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day14.jpg" width="182" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyg25yteJp-7IXozUWBlX_a5O_-WwqBs-lmAHWiGSX0QUI3NaN6AKRNtBdgOfvhKdTYjkXSI-Xq2evJTUt2cvbSJlzdZqYrLC4QM7o1izZGV5zXyB5lQox1ZdklIDeWAynBn5_Whp2M7Bp7iq5iG6gfg1vBEa1qsLpVOshK-QgVDtcMS8-WxWfJjR22yQ/s1600/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day14b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="883" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyg25yteJp-7IXozUWBlX_a5O_-WwqBs-lmAHWiGSX0QUI3NaN6AKRNtBdgOfvhKdTYjkXSI-Xq2evJTUt2cvbSJlzdZqYrLC4QM7o1izZGV5zXyB5lQox1ZdklIDeWAynBn5_Whp2M7Bp7iq5iG6gfg1vBEa1qsLpVOshK-QgVDtcMS8-WxWfJjR22yQ/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day14b.jpg" width="177" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2023 Cardsmiths Street Fighter Series 1</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>Convention Exclusive Box</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">And </span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Street Fighter</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> was big among my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">college buddies</span><span style="color: #999999;">. We wasted countless hours battling each other while chowing down on </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Jack in the Box</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">tacos</span><span style="color: #999999;">. The thing is... while I was </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">king</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of those </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">tacos</span><span style="color: #999999;">... I </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">sucked</span><span style="color: #999999;"> at the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">game</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Regardless... I'm pretty stoked to open these up. Maybe I'll get lucky and pull an </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">E. Honda</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> for my </span><a href="https://fujiapple.weebly.com/japanese-players-pc.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Japanese Athlete PC</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 15th</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> truly is a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">good friend</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. <i>Why?</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMq5X2ZDoEbz7C45dBums52hq-iGOSI2EAgqlEz1yK0i2Qk9Z_E2luntmNUDXoQ7Kq2us6JA-8e6v7HJICoKezRnVZrZv3jFxs1wr_XW16X4Hd6vhXciiKFzeqH2HVBUs7vSA7CZ9k1B9tzFmkIGMzrDfSDWJqdI611v3H3_QL1mVWvXxZg5e19GAhXA/s2129/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day15.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1997" data-original-width="2129" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinMq5X2ZDoEbz7C45dBums52hq-iGOSI2EAgqlEz1yK0i2Qk9Z_E2luntmNUDXoQ7Kq2us6JA-8e6v7HJICoKezRnVZrZv3jFxs1wr_XW16X4Hd6vhXciiKFzeqH2HVBUs7vSA7CZ9k1B9tzFmkIGMzrDfSDWJqdI611v3H3_QL1mVWvXxZg5e19GAhXA/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day15.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Because </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">good friends</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> encourage you to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">use protection</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 16th</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I recently cancelled my subscription to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Hulu</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (as well as </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Peacock</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Paramount</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">). Unfortunately one of the shows I had on my watchlist was </span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Demon Slayer</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3nc85DVkScFr9xn8ALXlyflFqXLwI8R4YoDiRCGt3QSL-K57_Js4HpoOQET3ho0AeSxr5PMTGd9_YfaD5tlzYfBjtVMOW6Wl1MMpc4otc3p4cBmHUdA3Nz9hMtp04y456bI4XE-Hwlo0YKfOZ8JvTgdbSmRx2VqDY65zcysZvsRdONYuelBmWD47zPg/s2201/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2201" data-original-width="1502" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3nc85DVkScFr9xn8ALXlyflFqXLwI8R4YoDiRCGt3QSL-K57_Js4HpoOQET3ho0AeSxr5PMTGd9_YfaD5tlzYfBjtVMOW6Wl1MMpc4otc3p4cBmHUdA3Nz9hMtp04y456bI4XE-Hwlo0YKfOZ8JvTgdbSmRx2VqDY65zcysZvsRdONYuelBmWD47zPg/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day16.jpg" width="218" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2021 Ensky Demon Slayer Sticker Packs</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">If these look familiar... </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ryan</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> sent me a batch of these </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2022/12/custom-built-personalized.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">last year</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> too. Hoping to watch the show one of these days, so I can truly appreciate them.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 17th</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">When I was growing up, my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">mom</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> would fill up our </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Christmas</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">stockings </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">trinkets</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> catered to each person's </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">interests</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">17th</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">present</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> reminded me of one of those </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">childhood stockings</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Let's begin with the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">click bait photo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for this post:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKmUL4mmCHYB5uajGpRhx-ryXl5uidfZhlAw8TiNNvLGEhSLJYpjGFb9cy2rIb9xGzcczDbxZkxOrxWEk9R7DgIWM0uLhoCF5Grt5TY_fKbJ9sW4ONecpOtMvxd8lSlOfj_n63X4W5izgYGOyNnYqjWW7pmGzPFZKuR5pxZCgYqPMPu1MpGMqfwWf7Gk/s1025/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-robinson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="1025" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKmUL4mmCHYB5uajGpRhx-ryXl5uidfZhlAw8TiNNvLGEhSLJYpjGFb9cy2rIb9xGzcczDbxZkxOrxWEk9R7DgIWM0uLhoCF5Grt5TY_fKbJ9sW4ONecpOtMvxd8lSlOfj_n63X4W5izgYGOyNnYqjWW7pmGzPFZKuR5pxZCgYqPMPu1MpGMqfwWf7Gk/w200-h128/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-robinson.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DyBinPfZTIDjV0m6L50xA238kcrSRuJZXAtDjXCa9QI4AXB6z8xiuli98hlsV9oATwjppvu-toJsldJY5dVxOBd6rFWpYiat4wLdjuQBj3PDCxSp92MKmVqhtIAsmO9gREtgOr9qTtvXTTZVTp3Xn5VFiQ53Ird3ResyoNkfjfV3sR2ZK1-8cOgsBng/s1025/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-robinsonb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="1025" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DyBinPfZTIDjV0m6L50xA238kcrSRuJZXAtDjXCa9QI4AXB6z8xiuli98hlsV9oATwjppvu-toJsldJY5dVxOBd6rFWpYiat4wLdjuQBj3PDCxSp92MKmVqhtIAsmO9gREtgOr9qTtvXTTZVTp3Xn5VFiQ53Ird3ResyoNkfjfV3sR2ZK1-8cOgsBng/w200-h127/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-robinsonb.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2023 Graduate Hotel Key Card</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><i><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Is this the coolest </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hotel key card</span></i><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><i> or what?</i> This year's </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">advent calendar</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> has been full of awesome </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">oddball items</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. It's going to be hard to top this one.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Next up were a pair of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball stamps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkYNW94pTTtxh0OA__xIrRCqKtzEQmVOH9vaXRblBtuUhOxogV9im2hcB6vPSLfR_WiqTxYOL5Ev5dPdwwIKgGzha3dlaQ2pNQAo48LJEQ2SnJsMdh0Cv9XARrVNFghr_xLjjCVfK4oefwWwIDA9sd9D3RGKQ8ZYiBqZGiIKm3QtHaTPi6p8qQZ3vM14/s496/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-ruth.jpg" style="color: #999999; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="324" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkYNW94pTTtxh0OA__xIrRCqKtzEQmVOH9vaXRblBtuUhOxogV9im2hcB6vPSLfR_WiqTxYOL5Ev5dPdwwIKgGzha3dlaQ2pNQAo48LJEQ2SnJsMdh0Cv9XARrVNFghr_xLjjCVfK4oefwWwIDA9sd9D3RGKQ8ZYiBqZGiIKm3QtHaTPi6p8qQZ3vM14/w131-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-ruth.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUojfgY6lIkoaUg0SOyFtYFDKCP_jJvMX8j5XGEd0wZYA1w4IEVkURVnqmnRFZ4AdjCpVTISCaFRB6WCGfPYVrxoQ0HmbYvpXkQajmh0OW6HAfZOgLrTbZe60t3ZGjwF7WqOLuIpiRAR4xh68pgeUJBUpacXXuTGZrHuAmRT8FEki5V30ua4kUkga7BBI/s502/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-stamp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="502" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUojfgY6lIkoaUg0SOyFtYFDKCP_jJvMX8j5XGEd0wZYA1w4IEVkURVnqmnRFZ4AdjCpVTISCaFRB6WCGfPYVrxoQ0HmbYvpXkQajmh0OW6HAfZOgLrTbZe60t3ZGjwF7WqOLuIpiRAR4xh68pgeUJBUpacXXuTGZrHuAmRT8FEki5V30ua4kUkga7BBI/w200-h126/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-stamp.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1983 USPS Babe Ruth 20ยข Stamp</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1939 Centennial of Baseball 3ยข Stamp</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Stamp collecting</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> doesn't seem to be as popular as it once was. Yeah right. I'll collect </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">stamps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> like these until the day I stop </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collecting</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><i><span style="color: #999999;">How about some</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> ice cream mini-helmets</span><span style="color: #999999;">?</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvSjYxLaYETENZ8czw_fEtDEIOu-jdfDQZFPXfaE3ecepXjlMztpFkpgeiIcI0c3wgCqQiZYDgdxgkYo-ZdywYXwsSU-MZbx9bwlvsMUEduRNFow6VCT1TDjDt8pwIUcCqLjYXKMENaIghyphenhyphen-HrBSA0fKU-RDhFpPlwBWdQjGa-1rjFX6ig4umg2o2xmg/s1393/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-mini-helmets.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="1393" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvSjYxLaYETENZ8czw_fEtDEIOu-jdfDQZFPXfaE3ecepXjlMztpFkpgeiIcI0c3wgCqQiZYDgdxgkYo-ZdywYXwsSU-MZbx9bwlvsMUEduRNFow6VCT1TDjDt8pwIUcCqLjYXKMENaIghyphenhyphen-HrBSA0fKU-RDhFpPlwBWdQjGa-1rjFX6ig4umg2o2xmg/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-mini-helmets.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Love those too! I already have the same </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">A's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> one in my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">office</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, so I'll take that into my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">classroom</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">brown</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> & </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">gold </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Padres</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> mini helmet </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">was added to the</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> office shelf</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> though:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70aSO3cJIPvr-V16Of5YQIuyTggLUV3gU1pphP7UNKkt6gzSBfljC9jw6u2xpCs50xZKrh_Ghoi7if4z6NVWvU3rkJ_cCbq_qmQ64-tF_Nbz4oJDJ1JIymkTzcEJGJiHORPYjtd3a3WLynXMgGK2ch07_h5M9eV1-guockibhSLDT_s5qOGdjqDDFdG4/s2339/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-shelf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1879" data-original-width="2339" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70aSO3cJIPvr-V16Of5YQIuyTggLUV3gU1pphP7UNKkt6gzSBfljC9jw6u2xpCs50xZKrh_Ghoi7if4z6NVWvU3rkJ_cCbq_qmQ64-tF_Nbz4oJDJ1JIymkTzcEJGJiHORPYjtd3a3WLynXMgGK2ch07_h5M9eV1-guockibhSLDT_s5qOGdjqDDFdG4/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-shelf.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">As for the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">San Francisco Giants</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">helmet</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... I'll either pass it along to my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">brother</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> or </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">co-worker</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... both of whom are </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Giants</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">fans</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I might have already had the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">helmet</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but I didn't have this </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">A's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">oddball item</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTfUwcyIb_Q5r4TiPrF187DKzZARbXfVcXYec51xvCo30UelyuXfiWOkJW3CpaN4LJghysTatvHPt2c4tZxqfTTNn-peY-vzh3UJg6Y6fsCU1iSNoPbMcelCsXBSjkexRRi_ULuKmWetTVXEFjzU72xQn5aINlKJQjJ0kRcnmFBuTRSqeTwsSI-foYsI/s701/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-canseco2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="700" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTfUwcyIb_Q5r4TiPrF187DKzZARbXfVcXYec51xvCo30UelyuXfiWOkJW3CpaN4LJghysTatvHPt2c4tZxqfTTNn-peY-vzh3UJg6Y6fsCU1iSNoPbMcelCsXBSjkexRRi_ULuKmWetTVXEFjzU72xQn5aINlKJQjJ0kRcnmFBuTRSqeTwsSI-foYsI/w145-h145/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-canseco2.jpg" width="145" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9ec8gtoHTinraaMkSpvFKuSGqA-PBjWbeA7nxRWc9RVwBD-jl3oVxIdNrMMYLWowKAPAMNPy7h2dmH33J9bbn3jnHYXyZd03_KaJMds-XQnhcY2H4jl1wemBvOvHqVVPeT8tVnULdPFji5Z4-wb5ta9f7foAnV4R_KdRDq8FAFrbGPgeAsnw6GXrfmc/s700/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-canseco.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="696" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq9ec8gtoHTinraaMkSpvFKuSGqA-PBjWbeA7nxRWc9RVwBD-jl3oVxIdNrMMYLWowKAPAMNPy7h2dmH33J9bbn3jnHYXyZd03_KaJMds-XQnhcY2H4jl1wemBvOvHqVVPeT8tVnULdPFji5Z4-wb5ta9f7foAnV4R_KdRDq8FAFrbGPgeAsnw6GXrfmc/w144-h145/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-canseco.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1990 Superstar Action Marbles #NNO</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I tried to put this up on my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">A's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">shelf</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the office... but it kept rolling off. Until I can find permanent place to display it, it's part of my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">desk decorations</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Rounding out the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">December 17th</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">present </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">are some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">snack packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJzs1vRarT8FCIPALh6_tthhJxyVccX85qU5jvvJksBRa8p_cPglgCPzY31S9nkMKmWoy5rgT8-Fn0Y8cI8Dm5QyMROHIPNPgSc3GPNSxF90w1xKPVCJoqVvtgZqYT58V35lStV5SixJqsOHJoOLVqRQWG6Dlg9ZAyODTbSGA6tMtbmNNXkvT7TBpvqk/s1832/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-snacks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1603" data-original-width="1832" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDJzs1vRarT8FCIPALh6_tthhJxyVccX85qU5jvvJksBRa8p_cPglgCPzY31S9nkMKmWoy5rgT8-Fn0Y8cI8Dm5QyMROHIPNPgSc3GPNSxF90w1xKPVCJoqVvtgZqYT58V35lStV5SixJqsOHJoOLVqRQWG6Dlg9ZAyODTbSGA6tMtbmNNXkvT7TBpvqk/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-snacks.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2022 Bandai Heaven Burns Red Series 1</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2023 Bandai Heaven Burns Red Series 2</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">very first care packages</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> took place when he was stationed in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Europe</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, so they were always filled with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">interesting treats</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. This is kind of a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">throwback</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to those days. Each of these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> contained a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">delicious vanilla wafer</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">trading card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPRlTC_sh22GERcR2ERVz9-p8LGNHpE56CwCQkpkv99aaYyac-5VGfp0GY-XPgifPVIeylo4UaosfVXqcvfv5X5H2QigwTZRCAnr914UUOdw4A4XGdtsrCD2xpXRt8DmWb_i9GBTImBH7mcaxPnfhKXIIYVUhrwNfPtAx3kbpzCaI7DRCvsucrDyKLLI/s1226/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-heaven1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1226" data-original-width="707" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPRlTC_sh22GERcR2ERVz9-p8LGNHpE56CwCQkpkv99aaYyac-5VGfp0GY-XPgifPVIeylo4UaosfVXqcvfv5X5H2QigwTZRCAnr914UUOdw4A4XGdtsrCD2xpXRt8DmWb_i9GBTImBH7mcaxPnfhKXIIYVUhrwNfPtAx3kbpzCaI7DRCvsucrDyKLLI/w116-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-heaven1.jpg" width="116" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCdhJFbbJZsgPyZx0YMBADQYDJJWST13T6SBBr_6cA5COdfaDOHvQJ-q92AgqL852jbQpuffplQW3M0YrHA0VSUx-WkkENATXh3P1IkdS2_OtZx1BGDtvPZcdKJgiowllhyM3swBpRxhgpNym3qE2UtFekdGZ_Db7-rmk8OrY6hnrnLsqOxlShhPpXzA/s1225/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-heaven1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="706" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCdhJFbbJZsgPyZx0YMBADQYDJJWST13T6SBBr_6cA5COdfaDOHvQJ-q92AgqL852jbQpuffplQW3M0YrHA0VSUx-WkkENATXh3P1IkdS2_OtZx1BGDtvPZcdKJgiowllhyM3swBpRxhgpNym3qE2UtFekdGZ_Db7-rmk8OrY6hnrnLsqOxlShhPpXzA/w115-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-heaven1a.jpg" width="115" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2022 Bandai Heaven Burns Red Series 1 #18</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7dv4ahWpkuHrs3-gJic7r17lGAJ7UYuokTE4XUJM2z_nut00eo6kAQ-USHRuuXjyw8iYzlxh9hKY0Rk4Byjz1ozH7hoWcjn8vTfxDccQ3I19j95tVZs4rEP4l61C-QccUhKVbHrs7wYV9-TG3L6-bf5QtwBEyiJlUQaPAg6bl6RbrBgH4gavEydPlKY/s1225/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-heaven2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1225" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7dv4ahWpkuHrs3-gJic7r17lGAJ7UYuokTE4XUJM2z_nut00eo6kAQ-USHRuuXjyw8iYzlxh9hKY0Rk4Byjz1ozH7hoWcjn8vTfxDccQ3I19j95tVZs4rEP4l61C-QccUhKVbHrs7wYV9-TG3L6-bf5QtwBEyiJlUQaPAg6bl6RbrBgH4gavEydPlKY/w200-h118/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-heaven2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwSZEiuRRsKRB5vv8aoow0R03UqbKw81eQMrp1ky4R9r3Zwy19o-H-kw5oZNf_gBUIeFkn3ygYLBQwjFzvhxUjP-CzV5zCDER2GJ8pJwlrzaXuFJGKq8v7RBaxaKrpuWr6PKThRjaCrr5fwQaFpbSTNLi2t5fOIspaIb9Oimp1d7WY_lmpT11rBghuJs/s1225/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-heaven2b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="712" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwSZEiuRRsKRB5vv8aoow0R03UqbKw81eQMrp1ky4R9r3Zwy19o-H-kw5oZNf_gBUIeFkn3ygYLBQwjFzvhxUjP-CzV5zCDER2GJ8pJwlrzaXuFJGKq8v7RBaxaKrpuWr6PKThRjaCrr5fwQaFpbSTNLi2t5fOIspaIb9Oimp1d7WY_lmpT11rBghuJs/w116-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day17-heaven2b.jpg" width="116" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2023 Bandai Heaven Burns Red Series 2 #08</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'm not familiar with this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">show</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but it must be </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pretty popular</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> if they're producing </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">trading cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for it. Both of these will be added to my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Japanese</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">non-sports binder</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Wow... that </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">present</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sure packed a lot. I could have dedicated an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">entire post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to it.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">But the show must go on...</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 18th</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Rounding out the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">third post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> documenting</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"> Ryan's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">awesome advent calendar</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blaster box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2022 Topps Series 2</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Between my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Black Friday Dave & Adam's Card World</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">purchase</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">plethora of packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rainy day pack stash</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">sitting pretty</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr22uHqyrUoLjpH6XK5pQNZhMnxqEOs22X_q6XGb3dwRmWFc9dzPV0EWcCjvI0wNivcmjxDBSbpJuz2hgy3C_ltqRfdwJnwA8HlVr4wDIlcTdlXpW4p-orwa6X8tIifLWiREebjNghn7_iI6c7iiGJkNoIAuZYC_TPeIoOI2x-ezGObmN1JYoH9qfiM_8/s1558/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1558" data-original-width="1136" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr22uHqyrUoLjpH6XK5pQNZhMnxqEOs22X_q6XGb3dwRmWFc9dzPV0EWcCjvI0wNivcmjxDBSbpJuz2hgy3C_ltqRfdwJnwA8HlVr4wDIlcTdlXpW4p-orwa6X8tIifLWiREebjNghn7_iI6c7iiGJkNoIAuZYC_TPeIoOI2x-ezGObmN1JYoH9qfiM_8/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day18.jpg" width="233" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2022 Topps Series 2 Baseball Blaster Box</i></b></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> will be tossed into the mix. Looks like I could potentially pull </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rookie cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Josh Lowe</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Spencer Strider</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Wander Franco</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> ๐ฏ.</span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Stay tuned for the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">final segment</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">series</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... which will hopefully be up on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Thursday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Until then...</span></div></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Tuesday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-76328066008492612782024-01-06T15:00:00.000-08:002024-01-06T15:00:00.142-08:00Turn The Page: Beckett Baseball (8/91)<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Sorry </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Seger</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> fans. This post won't be focusing on his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">classic song</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... which happens to be one of my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">all-time favorites</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. It will however showcase a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">periodical</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> that arrived from </span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">east </span><span style="color: #999999;">of </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Omaha</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Sometime last year, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dennis</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> over at </span><a href="https://toomanycg.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: red;">Too Many Verlanders</span></i></b></a><span style="color: #999999;"> sent me </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">three issues</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400;"><i>Beckett Baseball</i></span><span style="color: #999999;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">two issues</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Baseball Weekly</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">, and a copy of </span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Sports Collectors Digest</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> with one thing in common. They all featured </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Mr. Padre</span><span style="color: #999999;"> on the cover.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Today's</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> rainy day forecast</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> cancelled my trip to the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">De Anza Flea Market</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and opened up my schedule, so I figured today would be perfect to show them off. Unfortunately... after writing for about </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">thirty minutes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I came to the conclusion that summarizing all of these would take an entire afternoon.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><i>My solution?</i> Let's start a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">new series</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on this blog. In addition to what </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dennis</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sent me, I have tons of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">other periodicals</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> laying around with interesting stuff waiting to be unveiled.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Today's subject is </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Tony Gwynn's </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"> <i>Beckett Baseball Card Monthly</i></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cover</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> appearance:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVlOI8ALYeiefbfYR8-xJ_1N1AFT4HJ55fq1u596sEwbwGGjtw1t2C_fU0Lza6b6VcC3ohHPKyzKUjxkl3HCQTC12soc4hSFqMNKQkl1zPJMHo_yq4GE0wl2vgTviL3IJLg8kK5PAXypsoTSG_0qFTXpOCmcK8rdmofOSP-ijgknphsrK71PH2OjUqic/s1600/beckett-gwynn-1991-august.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVlOI8ALYeiefbfYR8-xJ_1N1AFT4HJ55fq1u596sEwbwGGjtw1t2C_fU0Lza6b6VcC3ohHPKyzKUjxkl3HCQTC12soc4hSFqMNKQkl1zPJMHo_yq4GE0wl2vgTviL3IJLg8kK5PAXypsoTSG_0qFTXpOCmcK8rdmofOSP-ijgknphsrK71PH2OjUqic/w301-h400/beckett-gwynn-1991-august.jpg" width="301" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Beckett Baseball August 1991</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">By the time this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">issue</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">published</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Gwynn</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was a</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"> 6x NL All-Star</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">4x Silver Slugger Award</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">winner</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">3x Gold Glove Award</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">winner</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and had won </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">four </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">NL</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> batting titles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. It's kind of a shame he wasn't given the honor by </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Beckett</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> a little sooner.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin281LAKDkuWZuH0QoEupFt_UooaRUq-RRvcHV0Tw_zIHDNhuMJi_LIvmRrQEjxR36bRlaCF3uaNn2kI5rfaqEfUju1IJW_NEf1nlscYn4giV2ISs0DkWyRoqrARG26yTcxd8kNR5lhTGk0cHpNVGe8Yz8P4in7EsZFGQZilUYjEQBGvqwS91aX9iRcYo/s1025/tmv-xmas-2023-gwynn2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="738" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin281LAKDkuWZuH0QoEupFt_UooaRUq-RRvcHV0Tw_zIHDNhuMJi_LIvmRrQEjxR36bRlaCF3uaNn2kI5rfaqEfUju1IJW_NEf1nlscYn4giV2ISs0DkWyRoqrARG26yTcxd8kNR5lhTGk0cHpNVGe8Yz8P4in7EsZFGQZilUYjEQBGvqwS91aX9iRcYo/s320/tmv-xmas-2023-gwynn2.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2000 Topps Finest Finest Moments #FM3</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> article</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> about him covered everything from his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rookie cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">brother</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Chris</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Gwynn</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> also talked about </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">3,000</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hits</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> being attainable (he was about halfway there at this point in his career) as long as he maintained his consistency.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">But the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one thing</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that really stood out was </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Jack Clark</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mike Pagliarulo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> accusing him of not being a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">team player</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBMh8pAfgJZqNNK7Bh0venUdrUWaZQJjWdTyvOL5BhFTULIM-DirNfVZB5eYMNKMw-qrtxMSXrsT4VzEme7z1L0R0f_y2UPWRiduzNl8S04o3RMpQvuZ6G3AT-RIiGIYKOanIHIYh0edm3tLE8ECqpgLDt_59jmwB7h1f4PkD9C0d_TROH3bLZc1Oj94/s2754/beckett-gwynn-1991-august-article.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2754" data-original-width="1851" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBMh8pAfgJZqNNK7Bh0venUdrUWaZQJjWdTyvOL5BhFTULIM-DirNfVZB5eYMNKMw-qrtxMSXrsT4VzEme7z1L0R0f_y2UPWRiduzNl8S04o3RMpQvuZ6G3AT-RIiGIYKOanIHIYh0edm3tLE8ECqpgLDt_59jmwB7h1f4PkD9C0d_TROH3bLZc1Oj94/s320/beckett-gwynn-1991-august-article.jpg" width="215" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This took me by surprise. I also learned a little about </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Babe Ruth</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in separate </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">article</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGA6tfyzNDI6NB3HMpgR0Guv2FhvDW9lvZaD3U2C48KkUsfc_AiVo0v4d0XNZRGS8qyIiES9yJNkv07IzWNVv5-yrTYVfl4xFIL6E0R3r5h3jm30rSqz-WUi_Paiyfu09KIyVCFpr6h6nzXeO87excBdyNQwXtiZ0pGzEuFG3Xqj1t2DrERNLV1rv7yqM/s2693/beckett-gwynn-1991-august-babe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1393" data-original-width="2693" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGA6tfyzNDI6NB3HMpgR0Guv2FhvDW9lvZaD3U2C48KkUsfc_AiVo0v4d0XNZRGS8qyIiES9yJNkv07IzWNVv5-yrTYVfl4xFIL6E0R3r5h3jm30rSqz-WUi_Paiyfu09KIyVCFpr6h6nzXeO87excBdyNQwXtiZ0pGzEuFG3Xqj1t2DrERNLV1rv7yqM/s320/beckett-gwynn-1991-august-babe.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">It's hard to believe it took the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">New York Yankees</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">twelve years</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> after his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">retirement</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to honor arguably the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">greatest to ever play the game</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggA8q54HIsa_39Bj8rRlmhSOVIEpXguJ_OrVlWvU3QwYCX1p8gyPRZMxLxrRpJ3ToQGYO_gGAHjxPzilWYT8ov2dx3BUfONe02lOyWAPinpydxCdfvgxYHgslfnvC5bZZ27dK1vrU0Sp5fgbT8GPNjbE1JHt1ejkPIdxzY3j-Qb5WaJoVFAF0TUN6mNA/s1025/tmv-xmas-2023-ruth1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="731" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggA8q54HIsa_39Bj8rRlmhSOVIEpXguJ_OrVlWvU3QwYCX1p8gyPRZMxLxrRpJ3ToQGYO_gGAHjxPzilWYT8ov2dx3BUfONe02lOyWAPinpydxCdfvgxYHgslfnvC5bZZ27dK1vrU0Sp5fgbT8GPNjbE1JHt1ejkPIdxzY3j-Qb5WaJoVFAF0TUN6mNA/w143-h200/tmv-xmas-2023-ruth1.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWvnyyUJSqe_P1esRJxhS-80E59WWcOklhsMlxi2q73DTKoD_9n98vGT5cM3zHT_1Em3-pLwYazbw0u0b4E4co70unRSi7yzZkyeFLNv-aV5_sqv4TlniGtNEtD1_QjC07O7coEFJxZs7Hn19R6N8X2rExwh-U5-VINLYaK6f7mP4-254UV9MV6VarcA/s1025/tmv-xmas-2023-ruth1b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="729" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWvnyyUJSqe_P1esRJxhS-80E59WWcOklhsMlxi2q73DTKoD_9n98vGT5cM3zHT_1Em3-pLwYazbw0u0b4E4co70unRSi7yzZkyeFLNv-aV5_sqv4TlniGtNEtD1_QjC07O7coEFJxZs7Hn19R6N8X2rExwh-U5-VINLYaK6f7mP4-254UV9MV6VarcA/w143-h200/tmv-xmas-2023-ruth1b.jpg" width="143" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2002 Fleer Fall Classic HOF Plaque #1</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">A year later (on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">June 13th</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1948</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">) the he returned to</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"> Yankee Stadium</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and was honored again by having his</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> jersey number retired</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. It was his last trip there. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Three months</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> after that (on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">August 16th</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">) he </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">passed away</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in his sleep.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1OBV9Dk8LL2zetqwuzZ-dyxDaR7jT3JOysCcpsT4se4M3j3NZ38c9J52o-m-ZG3gT7EhjpYEzPFhsUdWw9aRaZesyiAqg0SFkZDYoUoeorvjG9kDPVEG0njqoEGCi0RBm1Q6BcKuTFbPNTleo1OI2qw8Uqzc310KGx7uTHeaUC_1t3jm-tI5R4hf6Do/s1025/tmv-xmas-2023-gwynn3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="729" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1OBV9Dk8LL2zetqwuzZ-dyxDaR7jT3JOysCcpsT4se4M3j3NZ38c9J52o-m-ZG3gT7EhjpYEzPFhsUdWw9aRaZesyiAqg0SFkZDYoUoeorvjG9kDPVEG0njqoEGCi0RBm1Q6BcKuTFbPNTleo1OI2qw8Uqzc310KGx7uTHeaUC_1t3jm-tI5R4hf6Do/w143-h200/tmv-xmas-2023-gwynn3.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJBCXgc_kNyASDrd0RInoaUCrJqxyH5afKT05Pk-TVjwmD5GtJfwO_OoObmC8obgna7k7-xQOF3pVskLckJvFv7_lMkYDq741GVfwfk7zNgoEGGZucnw6tcM0V5bx98kYUHdF1UjT7X1bpSzNPg9r_93KCFlsJoVi_d6cPwSsOzf93PpwoWOfrFm77JI/s1025/tmv-xmas-2023-gwynn3b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="733" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieJBCXgc_kNyASDrd0RInoaUCrJqxyH5afKT05Pk-TVjwmD5GtJfwO_OoObmC8obgna7k7-xQOF3pVskLckJvFv7_lMkYDq741GVfwfk7zNgoEGGZucnw6tcM0V5bx98kYUHdF1UjT7X1bpSzNPg9r_93KCFlsJoVi_d6cPwSsOzf93PpwoWOfrFm77JI/w143-h200/tmv-xmas-2023-gwynn3b.jpg" width="143" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2020 Topps Chrome Update A Numbers Game #NGC-15</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Gwynn</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> would eventually have his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">jersey number retired</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2004</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> almost </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three years</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> after playing his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">final </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">MLB</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> game</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Getting back to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">issue</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, here's a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">quick peek</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> at </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Beckett's Hot & Cold</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">lists</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">summer</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1991</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULGJD9sf_B3OtzxQcuDX7VJneinR4QZ1DIZzNkSsvoC3UtlK4L5kTc-1WE_NsINOBBs4k2xKdcLmRv_usz40GH_XMK2ulUwb6T1uCdt3aDU8WkPmDLyxZiih6FEp8cnnNLEak6S_PxVeG0Poqd-3xCxMM7HyfEBQo1mL9DmPOp6dlEH9Ajm1Nr7xOKHU/s650/beckett-gwynn-1991-august-hot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="650" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULGJD9sf_B3OtzxQcuDX7VJneinR4QZ1DIZzNkSsvoC3UtlK4L5kTc-1WE_NsINOBBs4k2xKdcLmRv_usz40GH_XMK2ulUwb6T1uCdt3aDU8WkPmDLyxZiih6FEp8cnnNLEak6S_PxVeG0Poqd-3xCxMM7HyfEBQo1mL9DmPOp6dlEH9Ajm1Nr7xOKHU/w200-h165/beckett-gwynn-1991-august-hot.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOx0YD_Q2KX1YCDnB3ndwPeFp2sMIlUj6Gin3MzL880ielUvO4gOf2tojcWG7heK147mLiNN3Bc21Znk8J2S0ZcMFhH9zojQArCVx2bml_gSO7fCVQCprXC5znem6QjDbDf-Ki5rIazTDGXIE5YV4Rsh2RU8-p3OgyT6RxhnWuO8hy-2D1ubZMHYoUYw/s1264/beckett-gwynn-1991-august-cold.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1264" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJOx0YD_Q2KX1YCDnB3ndwPeFp2sMIlUj6Gin3MzL880ielUvO4gOf2tojcWG7heK147mLiNN3Bc21Znk8J2S0ZcMFhH9zojQArCVx2bml_gSO7fCVQCprXC5znem6QjDbDf-Ki5rIazTDGXIE5YV4Rsh2RU8-p3OgyT6RxhnWuO8hy-2D1ubZMHYoUYw/w200-h106/beckett-gwynn-1991-august-cold.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">It's no surprise that </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ken Griffey Jr.</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Frank Thomas</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were at the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">top</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hot list</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Pete Rose</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was on </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">top</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cold list</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUELmMUxl_xDt5n1879JxtOfglHPlzux3EdsIL8zIyPDf0Ia50uThyvWA_Bu306laJlUCo7u3fJsEiw2v8ltaRldKcKf-2PkV-4cBEaoLK7GiGa1vgGqsZd5_lxom3Hytku1_zkp2TwkgTB-IW6AJUGZhjGK15QYWJ-ppaLTTYWR95ZIJNNPA_AKEqk0/s1025/tmv-xmas-2023-rickey1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1025" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUELmMUxl_xDt5n1879JxtOfglHPlzux3EdsIL8zIyPDf0Ia50uThyvWA_Bu306laJlUCo7u3fJsEiw2v8ltaRldKcKf-2PkV-4cBEaoLK7GiGa1vgGqsZd5_lxom3Hytku1_zkp2TwkgTB-IW6AJUGZhjGK15QYWJ-ppaLTTYWR95ZIJNNPA_AKEqk0/s320/tmv-xmas-2023-rickey1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2002 Upper Deck #734</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I was surprised that </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Gwynn</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was nowhere to be found on either of these lists. At least my other </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">favorite player</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> made it on the list. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Rickey Henderson</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> had just broken </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Lou Brock's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">all-time stolen base record</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> a few months before this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">issue</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> came out, so his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pretty hot</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">By the way... if you're wondering why I'm not featuring one of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> highlighting this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">record</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, that's because all of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> featured in this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were part of a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Christmas</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">care package</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dennis</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (not to be confused with the package containing the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">periodicals</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYAIKP6S_iOI6F3rV8KDnpyhsqmW0bZD34VL1p8BqVPTgM0DxudkR7mgd37eIT8aY5HNxStjAHIKh05RMYHBnbhBsLMigARMVngmk-WbEGCCypOiofBzuiOJCNvikyhZ8BgHH8Vu1gVGdVVjJEWuQJCdSZlnXk2H-t1iotgxsY4kagVBifYUGGaYVvxQ/s611/tmv-xmas-2023-ruth2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="611" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYAIKP6S_iOI6F3rV8KDnpyhsqmW0bZD34VL1p8BqVPTgM0DxudkR7mgd37eIT8aY5HNxStjAHIKh05RMYHBnbhBsLMigARMVngmk-WbEGCCypOiofBzuiOJCNvikyhZ8BgHH8Vu1gVGdVVjJEWuQJCdSZlnXk2H-t1iotgxsY4kagVBifYUGGaYVvxQ/s320/tmv-xmas-2023-ruth2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Yup. He sent me that </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Babe Ruth</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">insert</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (above)... which completes my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2002 Fleer Fall Classic HOF Plaque</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set build</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (which I seem to have misplaced).</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">When I write another </span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Turn The Page</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">post</span><span style="color: #999999;">, I will do my best to include </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999;"> from the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">periodical's</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">era</span><span style="color: #999999;"> to help make things more relatable.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'll go ahead and wrap up this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">issue</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">inside back cover art</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MB8TJVoYvp6jskufMhZqw94a10Uc8BhBAbw-C74wzCZAqnLRCZNNO2jcZedTx2pnPqT88QYY6ht2YoXDp1Gv0HbVTuFPNKmAOqKPdiFT4l3GZaH82SfNK5iOmDNMFW2mLGVUemV5bWDZDWJAPeNJbomRYjAe8uygwsxsLbdrV_fsWIzkeZ2WicQxQRU/s1600/beckett-gwynn-1991-august-cobb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1210" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MB8TJVoYvp6jskufMhZqw94a10Uc8BhBAbw-C74wzCZAqnLRCZNNO2jcZedTx2pnPqT88QYY6ht2YoXDp1Gv0HbVTuFPNKmAOqKPdiFT4l3GZaH82SfNK5iOmDNMFW2mLGVUemV5bWDZDWJAPeNJbomRYjAe8uygwsxsLbdrV_fsWIzkeZ2WicQxQRU/s320/beckett-gwynn-1991-august-cobb.jpg" width="242" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Chris Modarelli </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">is responsible for this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">beautiful artwork</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Beckett</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> might have </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">misidentified</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUTXwyaJTFUTFQ1mDGKFWZgkPU7rB3XutNsfbaqA65M_Cpwdie7DVKzfox66na13LPRCUeCc7Eyp1F1yXxKjmjx6sWu4GsUd50Cz9d2Q_0oN8FSKG6HArvVCo6z0raGvOLDZFmLuXkoFDWZLcMweYFyANM4HXYto5E09y8cpidyaZJ7LJHImanT0WhPA/s513/beckett-gwynn-1991-august-cobb2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="513" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyUTXwyaJTFUTFQ1mDGKFWZgkPU7rB3XutNsfbaqA65M_Cpwdie7DVKzfox66na13LPRCUeCc7Eyp1F1yXxKjmjx6sWu4GsUd50Cz9d2Q_0oN8FSKG6HArvVCo6z0raGvOLDZFmLuXkoFDWZLcMweYFyANM4HXYto5E09y8cpidyaZJ7LJHImanT0WhPA/w200-h113/beckett-gwynn-1991-august-cobb2.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Not sure if they were just </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">stating a fact</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> about</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"> Cobb's T-206</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">or referring to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Modarelli's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">piece</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> which features his </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">T-205</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">And yes... here's a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> relating to the </span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Georgia Peach</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">:</span></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchlI3iLMSyXHKH9VDSHmJZz3XDX34_AyGwNb9BUQ9bHgcBJuGyWE-XqQ2qXSmtytlRh4EkqEv847iBQRLcVmfLAAnHId1ikfgS-LE7BI7JpdrnbMFcGpms38n68hD4s38qwJe829Tkpk99ZHm1V8uQ3xSoxnupXFLbGP8_8Ce7q7KMVjOsnR_eqK0wvI/s1025/tmv-xmas-2023-gwynn4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="723" data-original-width="1025" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchlI3iLMSyXHKH9VDSHmJZz3XDX34_AyGwNb9BUQ9bHgcBJuGyWE-XqQ2qXSmtytlRh4EkqEv847iBQRLcVmfLAAnHId1ikfgS-LE7BI7JpdrnbMFcGpms38n68hD4s38qwJe829Tkpk99ZHm1V8uQ3xSoxnupXFLbGP8_8Ce7q7KMVjOsnR_eqK0wvI/w200-h141/tmv-xmas-2023-gwynn4.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EptCJi8PgtxMfav34cG1nf13_2R-vKxAwj-IEyZClY4sl4EYBu-OvaPEmaFNHKjA74BfAdfso35RLujlkrKpgD0M4Izwq_IrN7DFe0dfGP4XTVKzTCh8e4lVzBT-LbNhl2BPpVqbsP9hmq6yokDawG65dbXuCvYbnEj9m8wUq6TQWP12Ss5OLpAqEtw/s1025/tmv-xmas-2023-gwynn4b.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1025" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EptCJi8PgtxMfav34cG1nf13_2R-vKxAwj-IEyZClY4sl4EYBu-OvaPEmaFNHKjA74BfAdfso35RLujlkrKpgD0M4Izwq_IrN7DFe0dfGP4XTVKzTCh8e4lVzBT-LbNhl2BPpVqbsP9hmq6yokDawG65dbXuCvYbnEj9m8wUq6TQWP12Ss5OLpAqEtw/w200-h141/tmv-xmas-2023-gwynn4b.jpeg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1997 Upper Deck UD3 #35</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Upper Deck</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> pointed out that the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">only players</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to have more </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">batting titles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> than </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Gwynn</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Honus Wagner</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ty Cobb</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. However </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Gwynn</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> would capture his </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">8th</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">batting title</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> at the end of the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1997</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> season... tying </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Wagner</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and leaving </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Cobb</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> as the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">only player</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with more </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">batting titles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Thank you</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> <a href="https://toomanycg.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Dennis</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> for providing this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">issue</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><i><b><span style="color: #ffa400;">Beckett</span></b></i><span style="color: #999999;"> and all of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999;"> featured in this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">post</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">And here you go</span><span style="color: #ffa400;"> Seger</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">fans</span><span style="color: #999999;">...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3khH9ih2XJg" width="320" youtube-src-id="3khH9ih2XJg"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;">#hopethisworks</span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">Hopefully </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Blogger</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and/or </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">YouTube</span><span style="color: #999999;"> allows me to include the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">song</span><span style="color: #999999;">. If not... click </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3khH9ih2XJg" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Saturday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-10009180011069360502024-01-04T15:00:00.000-08:002024-01-04T15:00:00.135-08:00Stocking Up for a Rainy Day<div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">advent calendar</span><span style="color: #999999;"> adventure continues with the next </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">six days of presents</span><span style="color: #999999;"> from </span><span style="color: red;"><b><i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF8iUMXLkWGp9PSM82IUi4w" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">SumoMenkoMan</span></a>.</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span><span style="color: #999999;">On </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2023/12/breaking-rules.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Thursday</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">, we left off with a bunch of </span></span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">packs</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and we'll continue with more...</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 7th</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYuvh5NraiytQJWKpyFlCrjo0Ywia4Q3eqxkT2BWJJytH09rbmvdA_-n-sa0oA4CFD-II6SS0AZ4C4mOnmzZQEJzRNHoSd_zh_g-_S_R7dWpnr_3W-MfdEGBoRlWsskU22HGOzgcBquXRjysn_JDOLzvkshpCZ52kyEn916S9Y3iWEnuDNtF4erHNbI4/s1296/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1269" data-original-width="1296" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLYuvh5NraiytQJWKpyFlCrjo0Ywia4Q3eqxkT2BWJJytH09rbmvdA_-n-sa0oA4CFD-II6SS0AZ4C4mOnmzZQEJzRNHoSd_zh_g-_S_R7dWpnr_3W-MfdEGBoRlWsskU22HGOzgcBquXRjysn_JDOLzvkshpCZ52kyEn916S9Y3iWEnuDNtF4erHNbI4/w320-h313/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day7.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1997 Team Vans Pack</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Although I've never seen these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> before, I am familiar with the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... because it features </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Steve Caballero's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_VcdzR1Kt6GJ4T70dNa9nyDTL7AwTwuunsTGtvHAQzO511YKgRnotzAGqozTXg6Byb5zjcog6pJZOvfg3ZFiiapTkta6DeChCJliUwb3cr6JDFxmMegq0aZ4wtjqyMhpy-4rJQC3arwa-2Nr8ZinKxtBHQe1Li0vIeJVSXRRP8q_ArZ2IneO1VopwYY/s1025/97-vans-tour-caballero.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1025" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_VcdzR1Kt6GJ4T70dNa9nyDTL7AwTwuunsTGtvHAQzO511YKgRnotzAGqozTXg6Byb5zjcog6pJZOvfg3ZFiiapTkta6DeChCJliUwb3cr6JDFxmMegq0aZ4wtjqyMhpy-4rJQC3arwa-2Nr8ZinKxtBHQe1Li0vIeJVSXRRP8q_ArZ2IneO1VopwYY/w200-h141/97-vans-tour-caballero.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWN-3UQQdHtz3w6wdKys1tWwX1fXK50E85Y0XUm0vN8TuwqIeVYkEU7zzrzW-nUml0oygYGnTWgYkEzaJH0emnssu6h8bfLMpNTFu2K0IZq-rKYmjQxFAFGVldBQn2dbYfRfMF-HtbKcljGT94MldL4jYRZENZvCvl1Jp1SWXhcUPAEeo0LqR7AHUgaw/s1025/97-vans-tour-caballero2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1025" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwWN-3UQQdHtz3w6wdKys1tWwX1fXK50E85Y0XUm0vN8TuwqIeVYkEU7zzrzW-nUml0oygYGnTWgYkEzaJH0emnssu6h8bfLMpNTFu2K0IZq-rKYmjQxFAFGVldBQn2dbYfRfMF-HtbKcljGT94MldL4jYRZENZvCvl1Jp1SWXhcUPAEeo0LqR7AHUgaw/w200-h142/97-vans-tour-caballero2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1997 Team Vans #1</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'm a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">big fan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of him and his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collectibles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. During the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">lockdown</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I discovered this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and picked it up on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">COMC</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$12.75</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLXRu03_XYjLe2BnFV0tXV32PGG1_YgI66Omm-BXjFobxikVbnj3bgbJYsEEpeDl84j-y5EobnDrCtAmxM_-2rcVgNGiAtelYbRBxgB1J6FGOrvtktMDashBAMqUd6bq19qBH1-qdBsYsiCn3gZzl6flm0829OjZoHEzZarIqOW2FApB8MvVNLDjeiec/s1425/pack-1997-team-vans-front.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="842" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXLXRu03_XYjLe2BnFV0tXV32PGG1_YgI66Omm-BXjFobxikVbnj3bgbJYsEEpeDl84j-y5EobnDrCtAmxM_-2rcVgNGiAtelYbRBxgB1J6FGOrvtktMDashBAMqUd6bq19qBH1-qdBsYsiCn3gZzl6flm0829OjZoHEzZarIqOW2FApB8MvVNLDjeiec/w118-h200/pack-1997-team-vans-front.jpg" width="118" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dJPpAzbPsnVIti8Ll1Iue1lmtXuQDpUxlrisXe2-rOu34LEEGY2qPGJJR9OORbVnComBPdTeIRFRvwlG96vQG1R596M1dl7YONqX038v2dh8t6cnKU9k2ef9NXHMt1WtFvm4qKkYBZMPpMV-8nxypQFM0Qp_euJtNrliy_Womy7Q5ANDewqPSi7uWLU/s1425/pack-1997-team-vans-back.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="1425" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dJPpAzbPsnVIti8Ll1Iue1lmtXuQDpUxlrisXe2-rOu34LEEGY2qPGJJR9OORbVnComBPdTeIRFRvwlG96vQG1R596M1dl7YONqX038v2dh8t6cnKU9k2ef9NXHMt1WtFvm4qKkYBZMPpMV-8nxypQFM0Qp_euJtNrliy_Womy7Q5ANDewqPSi7uWLU/w200-h117/pack-1997-team-vans-back.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">It'll be fun to see if I can pull one for myself when I get around to writing another </span><a href="https://apacktobenamedlater.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><b><i>APTBNL</i></b></span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">post</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span></div><span style="color: #999999;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 8th</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">The next </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">two packs</span><span style="color: #999999;"> contain </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">eight </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Ben Baller</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> cards</span><span style="color: #999999;">: </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvp-qBaye-DAx5lq5LdYYRzHqMUDE-vqzqBpJi3iUcNwiG0L2p2MDi-NRa0Pm7uihSb1k9zjtzxE8WOEKVbzAviC1NlkPXDxzxccaRX4yvBe5SrY3ISeMCc7y8H0LbBLBgssI_eoSHBepSYsO-V3tAotyM90JLXcBX0vOO2djPiUrwDlGFRnBz7cYx7Ek/s1486/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1312" data-original-width="1486" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvp-qBaye-DAx5lq5LdYYRzHqMUDE-vqzqBpJi3iUcNwiG0L2p2MDi-NRa0Pm7uihSb1k9zjtzxE8WOEKVbzAviC1NlkPXDxzxccaRX4yvBe5SrY3ISeMCc7y8H0LbBLBgssI_eoSHBepSYsO-V3tAotyM90JLXcBX0vOO2djPiUrwDlGFRnBz7cYx7Ek/w200-h177/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day8.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2021 Topps Chrome Ben Baller Packs</i></b></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Three years</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> after hearing </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ben Baller's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">name</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... I still have no idea who this guy is. But I do own a couple of</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> singles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Never had the pleasure of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">opening up a pack</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Now I get to bust two.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Here's what I pulled:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnj6lESCXIaB7UJ-msM2-nW1MuUhjJYgd5MP0fkPV8knInRl_x693LBpzh687YyvmO1tzhoO4w9Px3J7LtxbuJOjWeQYLd6pkfdIgjrQwcjlU5IGPu52UtGrVJYEFln1HCVPuSop4sdrsZH7vpPUCgeEDCK3KC6pFtPcbwArWmuyEbCtdZGURBZi4jAPg/s2200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day8b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="1588" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnj6lESCXIaB7UJ-msM2-nW1MuUhjJYgd5MP0fkPV8knInRl_x693LBpzh687YyvmO1tzhoO4w9Px3J7LtxbuJOjWeQYLd6pkfdIgjrQwcjlU5IGPu52UtGrVJYEFln1HCVPuSop4sdrsZH7vpPUCgeEDCK3KC6pFtPcbwArWmuyEbCtdZGURBZi4jAPg/w144-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day8b.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYm1Td0ZRub5zPzTJn7OWauXU9zj7al-3Kp-A9NLKx9jupigg3FwCgOCU2MRXtAmTym22lOUroI40oHFvSuyrh79J7DoCeFfjebWYxdppDYnbvSqeSWxEs8QRdRxbx6ASH9MUYYs_udF5EyVVyn7j7A6JMxGKLEC1XUPmXNYe0XQ9dOL_D-eAo2UdhQRY/s2200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day8c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2200" data-original-width="1587" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYm1Td0ZRub5zPzTJn7OWauXU9zj7al-3Kp-A9NLKx9jupigg3FwCgOCU2MRXtAmTym22lOUroI40oHFvSuyrh79J7DoCeFfjebWYxdppDYnbvSqeSWxEs8QRdRxbx6ASH9MUYYs_udF5EyVVyn7j7A6JMxGKLEC1XUPmXNYe0XQ9dOL_D-eAo2UdhQRY/w144-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day8c.jpg" width="144" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Pretty happy to pull a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">pair</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"> of guys</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collect</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and a decent </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rookie card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 9th</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Day</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">9</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> features </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">nine packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Holiday Inn</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sixteen years ago</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7ON7gYNvUtul7xLpc34rvf-YqMWYaJtuQSoTgJhDzCjqX1OxhvHy5-kASfdlsXX1j9w5oiPA1Bw6rmPx86hgW9jV60gGEb2j02v22bXfT_pp_pU5Zz6nxKigauVM4ApnT2wHzvb20jNFIPaz0f0Y7RLpakx_kM2ZZfrgnPzqeier2rhC6nweidlaJnE/s2455/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2064" data-original-width="2455" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd7ON7gYNvUtul7xLpc34rvf-YqMWYaJtuQSoTgJhDzCjqX1OxhvHy5-kASfdlsXX1j9w5oiPA1Bw6rmPx86hgW9jV60gGEb2j02v22bXfT_pp_pU5Zz6nxKigauVM4ApnT2wHzvb20jNFIPaz0f0Y7RLpakx_kM2ZZfrgnPzqeier2rhC6nweidlaJnE/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day9.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2007 Upper Deck Holiday Inn Packs</span></i></b></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span><a href="https://cardsoncards.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Kerry</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> reviewed this product back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">2011</span><span style="color: #999999;"> on </span><a href="https://apacktobenamedlater.blogspot.com/2011/04/2007-upper-deck-holiday-inn.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">APTBNL</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">.. but his pack only contained </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">four cards</span><span style="color: #999999;">. These </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">packs</span><span style="color: #999999;"> contain </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">eight cards</span><span style="color: #999999;">:</span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggA5eSNzzVtxCydO0vavIPrerWvFst4oiJNa2DUmkvtIOXApet2GogVMZaCdAQuisHHf4qNPE1k3OnlKS3JlKVb6RD3PxhfhDI3yYbOkPrEBgIQBTJvmXE7kNh4fbf4AYbZgq2wsM9DExTDmmYVE79k9Hg__BOuO-697IAFmFv-fxpXgeDLcBWq8d86js/s1652/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day9b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1652" data-original-width="1187" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggA5eSNzzVtxCydO0vavIPrerWvFst4oiJNa2DUmkvtIOXApet2GogVMZaCdAQuisHHf4qNPE1k3OnlKS3JlKVb6RD3PxhfhDI3yYbOkPrEBgIQBTJvmXE7kNh4fbf4AYbZgq2wsM9DExTDmmYVE79k9Hg__BOuO-697IAFmFv-fxpXgeDLcBWq8d86js/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day9b.jpg" width="230" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7u67oL9XmTZ2YP1AfJZjgO0ayB1k3QHinByGMuRxTeR7hJomV117ioDmHdviA8hQ1Krwaf_xmnVdmkxw6_rfHqF69soOUpCITzXdqiAk_F4KvolO7w6rYNlYKYEIC5YzlcEPa5dPA8b6WVmzfrZNqRQYObsvAuh4zaSbDZxqp48a79X7CEABkJEkYbJU/s1650/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day9c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1650" data-original-width="1189" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7u67oL9XmTZ2YP1AfJZjgO0ayB1k3QHinByGMuRxTeR7hJomV117ioDmHdviA8hQ1Krwaf_xmnVdmkxw6_rfHqF69soOUpCITzXdqiAk_F4KvolO7w6rYNlYKYEIC5YzlcEPa5dPA8b6WVmzfrZNqRQYObsvAuh4zaSbDZxqp48a79X7CEABkJEkYbJU/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day9c.jpg" width="231" /></a></span></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first five cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">five </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ripken</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> inserts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, while the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">final three cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">singles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sixty card set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The remaining </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">eight packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> will go into the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rainy day pack stash</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 10th</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">Next up are </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">two packs</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">2021 Topps</span><span style="color: #999999;">.... only these were the ones sold in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Japan</span><span style="color: #999999;">: </span></span></span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFTGpW91xIK8s_-CPsL8JbTjpz5jGjSP-jpZKk92v-rPmpj6ZbDlN3o4tdQ__NTT8Oqqz63WRj8Xgk221b-BA4d4kpPb_y1aKYN8lvQ5lxc3oyvzagUuQklC4MKqBGTCVGN9qqWPDbVaO1Dl7gF4Cg-DT-PhgTuBEtP-xpq5z1pZQ4RMiHkPGQr-AQZ8/s2842/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2467" data-original-width="2842" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFTGpW91xIK8s_-CPsL8JbTjpz5jGjSP-jpZKk92v-rPmpj6ZbDlN3o4tdQ__NTT8Oqqz63WRj8Xgk221b-BA4d4kpPb_y1aKYN8lvQ5lxc3oyvzagUuQklC4MKqBGTCVGN9qqWPDbVaO1Dl7gF4Cg-DT-PhgTuBEtP-xpq5z1pZQ4RMiHkPGQr-AQZ8/w320-h278/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day10.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2021 Topps Japan Edition Packs</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'll be keeping one sealed for my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">unopened pack collection</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... while the other will eventually be </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">reviewed</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and inserted into my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Japanese</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">trading card binder</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 11th</span></div><div style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">The next </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">present</span><span style="color: #999999;"> isn't something you open... it's something you wear: </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GQxoVG7LY7whtgvpDjrqjbHd5hlNOMF0X_SuHCelGL9CKPUL_gHtagvLf2_f8vSx0J6Hu8HxW6py9I1wqlXqWhLIanEzz8-P4cVTXwQv-hobGhvYwCe_Jk45jHApYbA-itPRikgo_rJPs0DLK-F4ZGfVYSCKsn7PvLT0XwMbd3ff8N3gTnrB3JWJGyg/s1711/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day11.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1711" data-original-width="861" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GQxoVG7LY7whtgvpDjrqjbHd5hlNOMF0X_SuHCelGL9CKPUL_gHtagvLf2_f8vSx0J6Hu8HxW6py9I1wqlXqWhLIanEzz8-P4cVTXwQv-hobGhvYwCe_Jk45jHApYbA-itPRikgo_rJPs0DLK-F4ZGfVYSCKsn7PvLT0XwMbd3ff8N3gTnrB3JWJGyg/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day11.jpg" width="161" /></span></a></div><span><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">At first glance, this looks like an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">ordinary tie</span><span style="color: #999999;"> featuring some </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">San Jose Sharks</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">logos</span><span style="color: #999999;">, but upon closer inspection... it was actually designed exclusively for the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">1995 NHL All-Star Game</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19F-lVcOYkBBxAaJdMcNUukjWUZzSZVzvLoUCZuzbWJAOG0pn2GyHKlPq9AG9nyIHDaX6tcGvFH7VuA5tCslE8lR1HPRutQ32YD89G0sBbqSJ85cQACTVinDjHOSYIqQ4ULBvgMP567Kr3ytjtDnuki3o2EaSg00LzJkhjEzgXgdhXFCxdJjyVILj9mI/s1121/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day11b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999;"><img border="0" data-original-height="221" data-original-width="1121" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19F-lVcOYkBBxAaJdMcNUukjWUZzSZVzvLoUCZuzbWJAOG0pn2GyHKlPq9AG9nyIHDaX6tcGvFH7VuA5tCslE8lR1HPRutQ32YD89G0sBbqSJ85cQACTVinDjHOSYIqQ4ULBvgMP567Kr3ytjtDnuki3o2EaSg00LzJkhjEzgXgdhXFCxdJjyVILj9mI/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day11b.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span><i><span style="color: #999999;">What's </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">special </span><span style="color: #999999;">about that?</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> Well that </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">game</span><span style="color: #999999;"> was </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cancelled</span><span style="color: #999999;"> due to the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">1994-95 NHL Lockout</span><span style="color: #999999;">, which makes this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">collectible</span><span style="color: #999999;"> kind of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">unique</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDgpLZf_kwc0cmP_GzMpWR5rT-QK962aYSEXH1uh3RWP8hlpS1up2YWMMmJ3pfFGUFI23hkvCSIR9P84VVTFP1h97ZCrjiire2p8g2zIGoTNxnwu3RtbNaMCaLl6Tntz_XogKEytH77k2sbIPOYVOQ1_oqANpPVfxmLMdgX7hwNhz4XnHa50eVGqw8oQ/s830/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day11c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="563" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDgpLZf_kwc0cmP_GzMpWR5rT-QK962aYSEXH1uh3RWP8hlpS1up2YWMMmJ3pfFGUFI23hkvCSIR9P84VVTFP1h97ZCrjiire2p8g2zIGoTNxnwu3RtbNaMCaLl6Tntz_XogKEytH77k2sbIPOYVOQ1_oqANpPVfxmLMdgX7hwNhz4XnHa50eVGqw8oQ/w136-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day11c.jpg" width="136" /></span></a></div><span><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">Another interesting thing about this</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> tie </span><span style="color: #999999;">is that it's individually </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">serial numbered</span><span style="color: #999999;"> to only </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">360</span><span style="color: #999999;">... which makes it a pretty </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">rare collectible</span><span style="color: #999999;">. </span></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 12th</span></div><div style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">last advent item of the day</span><span style="color: #999999;"> is this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">figure</span><span style="color: #999999;"> produced by </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Topps</span><span style="color: #999999;"> in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">late</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">90's</span><span style="color: #999999;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #999999; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #999999; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5HC9u7W_3htwhHTquD6Sh0L2H4pIFqlM53FjA0p5UjL3YFs8fvyylegHAOVAu64Ppk9VvI-ro0SQP4TQ1nggvz3_2Meu11h072GjDQdraipAuJcLDKW5cEdamexAv6sV8mxPxixPJsU4I-_ZEsJhK7z-pzBEUrqEL1qCyLgJPpZct5o0eNMExAuYrVI/s1296/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day12.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="691" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5HC9u7W_3htwhHTquD6Sh0L2H4pIFqlM53FjA0p5UjL3YFs8fvyylegHAOVAu64Ppk9VvI-ro0SQP4TQ1nggvz3_2Meu11h072GjDQdraipAuJcLDKW5cEdamexAv6sV8mxPxixPJsU4I-_ZEsJhK7z-pzBEUrqEL1qCyLgJPpZct5o0eNMExAuYrVI/w171-h320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day12.jpg" width="171" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400;"><b><i>1999 Topps Action Flats Barry Bonds</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">This </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">oddball issue</span><span style="color: #999999;"> sort of flies under the radar. I remember the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">card shop</span><span style="color: #999999;"> I worked at had these. A </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">decade</span><span style="color: #999999;"> later, I purchased a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">complete set</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">1998 Topps Action Flats</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">football set</span><span style="color: #999999;">, because it contains a </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Peyton Manning</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">rookie card</span><span style="color: #999999;">. But this is the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">first baseball version</span><span style="color: #999999;"> to enter my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">collection</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">Here's a peek at the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">back</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">box</span><span style="color: #999999;">: </span></span></span></div></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-T8qZF7Sf_gPu5-XbX1HBqD4hlHc2f6XGF_8NFuG8fwMozoe61BZAe_EpZ2KVCoH-eu_l9YnOUdfdhqhHrEa075rgTck8YoRhg8NrnGibIT4uwueSEolh3zGaxGYKLG1q0239EkzuVvAGR-tVf5-ysDpBXU5imzdlnKCLrDsizwlb5c-TqBXbdnPxrw/s1150/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day12b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="879" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-T8qZF7Sf_gPu5-XbX1HBqD4hlHc2f6XGF_8NFuG8fwMozoe61BZAe_EpZ2KVCoH-eu_l9YnOUdfdhqhHrEa075rgTck8YoRhg8NrnGibIT4uwueSEolh3zGaxGYKLG1q0239EkzuVvAGR-tVf5-ysDpBXU5imzdlnKCLrDsizwlb5c-TqBXbdnPxrw/w153-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day12b.jpg" width="153" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">When you open it up, there are </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two parts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. First is the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">trading card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivz0elquB6a68MMOpOGWOI-lDYPZlQJYXVHI15-pweUEiKWMfi48LMmcKqbZjG7u3sjUErd78I20gywiG7nC0Mgwtq-njB7ACJghQVXJUOJiHpVmg-B5L4eMk0uogxOPP-wItTHrV_ubHEE-4yTTomPkdQ8G3AxVpN-cn4vl3sIXeEcE4rDSYlaLt-rwY/s1025/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day12c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="737" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivz0elquB6a68MMOpOGWOI-lDYPZlQJYXVHI15-pweUEiKWMfi48LMmcKqbZjG7u3sjUErd78I20gywiG7nC0Mgwtq-njB7ACJghQVXJUOJiHpVmg-B5L4eMk0uogxOPP-wItTHrV_ubHEE-4yTTomPkdQ8G3AxVpN-cn4vl3sIXeEcE4rDSYlaLt-rwY/w144-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day12c.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6kXdQhMTYofa-1P3p4gp1x1p6sbZkx0LAUT9-on07aZ_WuI7UX7SChuv2n4C53wmY8LL-QiJg0SFYIq6bHbrn6Z0cCuRQeX2ZRaKnvMG0QHuh4fuBS0wgksqa7reS6wjb5fbbVhKeFBzPQOvCABekLubDT9Ei3tNa86WI4kMj1zOHlP2a7NgmfV_v3A/s1025/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day12d.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1025" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6kXdQhMTYofa-1P3p4gp1x1p6sbZkx0LAUT9-on07aZ_WuI7UX7SChuv2n4C53wmY8LL-QiJg0SFYIq6bHbrn6Z0cCuRQeX2ZRaKnvMG0QHuh4fuBS0wgksqa7reS6wjb5fbbVhKeFBzPQOvCABekLubDT9Ei3tNa86WI4kMj1zOHlP2a7NgmfV_v3A/w200-h141/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day12d.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">1999 Topps Flats #S1-6</span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Topps</span><span style="color: #999999;"> used a </span><a href="https://www.comc.com/Cards/Baseball/1999/Topps_-_Base/395/Barry_Bonds/2278673" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">different photo</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> from the one used in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">flagship set</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Then there's the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">flat figurine</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaN-3XEjNe1Vr9yjmHnh8RW62bGHWBS2uk7MWzG2fEBCwzSHq92-z4CiRjT-_gTviFWAxSYVE_GWln5ahgukwgaPoR8xMbGO2W6tx_ioWIPN-5iIkVxA8bLY9cCYqs-pi3VaeD8_C1QPStCjawj33204fZ4z7Jj_Uw4NRorqUh0GfgfGb8vmf8bPlmT0/s1600/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day12f.jpg" style="font-family: Quicksand; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1057" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaN-3XEjNe1Vr9yjmHnh8RW62bGHWBS2uk7MWzG2fEBCwzSHq92-z4CiRjT-_gTviFWAxSYVE_GWln5ahgukwgaPoR8xMbGO2W6tx_ioWIPN-5iIkVxA8bLY9cCYqs-pi3VaeD8_C1QPStCjawj33204fZ4z7Jj_Uw4NRorqUh0GfgfGb8vmf8bPlmT0/w132-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day12f.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6Zic1adxYnKQdqrUGcRo8VgNw0cWpBl6-uYgq63XlgRuc9L9KQLctzh0Sy-XmqV0Q2uQWviDcsttl45cM2Gu1PR1c-RZXmJzCpP0JB6LqC3F23rUBV4HS74EQftUVHz0zc2dPY9NTv7i949TBXnjMd9iIV0e8vs5wid1-9oAFEmD329umLNLUb0sPYs/s1600/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day12g.jpg" style="font-family: Quicksand; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1034" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG6Zic1adxYnKQdqrUGcRo8VgNw0cWpBl6-uYgq63XlgRuc9L9KQLctzh0Sy-XmqV0Q2uQWviDcsttl45cM2Gu1PR1c-RZXmJzCpP0JB6LqC3F23rUBV4HS74EQftUVHz0zc2dPY9NTv7i949TBXnjMd9iIV0e8vs5wid1-9oAFEmD329umLNLUb0sPYs/w129-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day12g.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I love how it's modeled after the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">player's photo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, so when you put them together it look like this:</span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-gcvVn63zBVRxihrxKqCnGFv0QcGCpnAmxSYWk4IyklGda-vlQnJdGlb_Ro_r4vvGBXSrDfzmw3RjIYuB6etwIX1sSpntKsM3-4dAKDLXjPoHbQbeGygxDfXP6Wz6YkobJGmUf9nHjsLm0lXu-d96kvXrZoSlLvS5Zx_7yfOfFqt152iRtlDk5a0phw/s3171/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day12e.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3171" data-original-width="2188" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-gcvVn63zBVRxihrxKqCnGFv0QcGCpnAmxSYWk4IyklGda-vlQnJdGlb_Ro_r4vvGBXSrDfzmw3RjIYuB6etwIX1sSpntKsM3-4dAKDLXjPoHbQbeGygxDfXP6Wz6YkobJGmUf9nHjsLm0lXu-d96kvXrZoSlLvS5Zx_7yfOfFqt152iRtlDk5a0phw/w221-h320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day12e.jpg" width="221" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">This </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">oddball issue</span><span style="color: #999999;"> is kind of cool and since they were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">overproduced</span><span style="color: #999999;">... they're really </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">affordable</span><span style="color: #999999;">. The only thing that's preventing me from picking up a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">complete set</span><span style="color: #999999;"> is the lack of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">storage space</span><span style="color: #999999;">. But I have added it to my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">saved </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">eBay</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> searches</span><span style="color: #999999;">, so who knows... you might see a few more pop up in </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">future blog posts</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">Well that's another day of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">awesome stuff</span><span style="color: #999999;"> from </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF8iUMXLkWGp9PSM82IUi4w" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><b><i>SumoMenkoMan</i></b></span></a><span style="color: #999999;">. There are still </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">thirteen days worth of goodies</span><span style="color: #999999;"> to go, so stay tuned.</span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Thursday</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and sayonara!</span></div></span></div></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-84061982176183461562024-01-02T15:00:00.000-08:002024-01-02T15:00:00.247-08:00Maybe, Maybe Not<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">A's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> days in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Oakland</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> are numbered. It's been a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rough road</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">bumpy ride</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but I'm starting to accept it. It's not like I have a choice. There's nothing </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">A's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">fans</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> can do or could have done to keep them in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Oakland</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I know there are those who will say we should have </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">attended more games</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">shown more support</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for our </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">beloved team</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and they would have </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">stayed</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. They might be right, but I think they're wrong.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">In my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">humble opinion</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">John Fisher</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> wasn't interested in staying around. </span><i><span style="color: #999999;">Could the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">city</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Oakland</span><span style="color: #999999;"> have done a better job at trying to keep the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">A's</span><span style="color: #999999;"> here?</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> Definitely. </span><i><span style="color: #999999;">Would </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">selling out games</span><span style="color: #999999;"> made a difference?</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> Probably. But if </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">ownership</span><span style="color: #999999;"> truly wanted to fill seats... trading away their </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">best players</span><span style="color: #999999;"> year in and year out wasn't a great </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">strategy</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><i>So what now?</i> W<i>ill I still </i></span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">support the team</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> when they officially start playing in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Las Vegas</span></i><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><i>?</i> Maybe, maybe not.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">What I do know is that I will continue wear my </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Oakland A's</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">jerseys</span><span style="color: #999999;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">hats</span><span style="color: #999999;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">hoodies</span><span style="color: #999999;">, and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">t-shirts</span><span style="color: #999999;"> proudly. Heck... you might even catch me wearing this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cool belt</span><span style="color: #999999;"> that </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Bob</span><span style="color: #999999;"> over at </span><a href="https://thebestbubble6884.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: red;">The Best Bubble</span></i></b></a><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">purchased</span><span style="color: #999999;"> for me:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPYFWze-Yc0GgF0EUG3ug_nCyAb3sDNsrCXlKwVlrhpr2dmB5uUa-foS1pCWhwIb6gJNW7Od-hzEOkW54gU_Vqp6wy9YxjJZ-OBSKHi13dRtxtzZjHDxOmVXg4WE_i5GcBqd-J3jKqxNFcrsx2X9PeBOerabDk3aUKZdbVhi6nn4TeOEaUwN0h3ZQ93s/s3267/best-bubble-belt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="3267" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPYFWze-Yc0GgF0EUG3ug_nCyAb3sDNsrCXlKwVlrhpr2dmB5uUa-foS1pCWhwIb6gJNW7Od-hzEOkW54gU_Vqp6wy9YxjJZ-OBSKHi13dRtxtzZjHDxOmVXg4WE_i5GcBqd-J3jKqxNFcrsx2X9PeBOerabDk3aUKZdbVhi6nn4TeOEaUwN0h3ZQ93s/w640-h122/best-bubble-belt.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">It's a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">custom belt</span><span style="color: #999999;"> made out of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">sports cards</span><span style="color: #999999;"> produced by a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">company</span><span style="color: #999999;"> called </span><a href="http://www.cardbelts.com" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: red;">Card Belts</span></i></b></a><span style="color: #999999;">. It contains a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">variety of cards</span><span style="color: #999999;"> ranging from a </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">San Jose Sharks</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">checklist</span><span style="color: #999999;"> to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">goofy</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Rex Hudler</span><span><span style="color: #999999;"> "</span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">milking the cow</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">" </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">card</span><span style="color: #999999;">. However the majority of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999;"> feature </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Oakland A's</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcO2B_mcx-KFUg1G400-IVNMzE8e04zsJXJ9cQjRSfS1iSB0hFzDLopEXVerj5JB5zJCoHt4dVCJy7DL1Ab2XjX9QKkBr5IbZiUe1QYgVdTrKLKXlZ_eo-riswkOzXkgrWIf8_lDn8uc2LeBt1DUzrs3uB9ESTkz4ucsoUpRS4qcsubq1cvmxiMFLTSQ/s4030/best-bubble-belt-edwards.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2028" data-original-width="4030" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqcO2B_mcx-KFUg1G400-IVNMzE8e04zsJXJ9cQjRSfS1iSB0hFzDLopEXVerj5JB5zJCoHt4dVCJy7DL1Ab2XjX9QKkBr5IbZiUe1QYgVdTrKLKXlZ_eo-riswkOzXkgrWIf8_lDn8uc2LeBt1DUzrs3uB9ESTkz4ucsoUpRS4qcsubq1cvmxiMFLTSQ/w320-h162/best-bubble-belt-edwards.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">oldest card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">belt</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mike Edward's 1979 Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">record breaker card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, which highlights his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two unassisted double plays</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> as a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">second baseman</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> against the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">California Angels</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">August 10th</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1978</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Luis Alicia</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> also did it </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">18</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">years later</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but they are the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">only two</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to accomplish the feat in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">American League</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">history</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'll never know when or where my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">MLB</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> baseball game</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> took place, but it was during the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">70's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and there's a good chance it took place at the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Oakland Coliseum</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. That's why no matter what... I'll </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">continue to collect</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">70's Oakland A's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> like the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Edwards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMZ4QnE63AED6hpQcW4x786TaVyePTzNQ3LKxiCeOBwOSmvJEawAvvZ6WL_VTSZMKX3NjOshxG96CuLl8zQAtSNQczoNKdVJoiPk2MwFPsVbSe7br3PPqKugc86-IVSzYufIP2exFTDTXTguPZnE6SF5BuDgyhiRORPRhurnYQ5hrJoj5xM9ba82t1_g/s4030/best-bubble-belt-rickey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1961" data-original-width="4030" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMZ4QnE63AED6hpQcW4x786TaVyePTzNQ3LKxiCeOBwOSmvJEawAvvZ6WL_VTSZMKX3NjOshxG96CuLl8zQAtSNQczoNKdVJoiPk2MwFPsVbSe7br3PPqKugc86-IVSzYufIP2exFTDTXTguPZnE6SF5BuDgyhiRORPRhurnYQ5hrJoj5xM9ba82t1_g/w320-h155/best-bubble-belt-rickey.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">My </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">all-time favorite</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Oakland Athletic</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">, </span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">The King of Steal</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> also makes an appearance on the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">belt</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and there's no chance I'll ever stop </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">collecting his cards</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznjM8WTfay5rfF7p3YHiqpLuOloLW61wl3FNq2wJ2hZGrWP0ptp5bUF7N6uxq7nS3Mpd6uqUV-jRhQ5Agp0pH6zX3KF9vYXHKLDX1-WvAh05DvjYTIcbtuuTvYKzTaTo-3KBzSX-af4zqnQjqwwUR3k9SAK8bj_zJK4FmWBQEKwz_Glt7MSwBHWXXK-0/s4030/best-bubble-belt-baines.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1665" data-original-width="4030" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznjM8WTfay5rfF7p3YHiqpLuOloLW61wl3FNq2wJ2hZGrWP0ptp5bUF7N6uxq7nS3Mpd6uqUV-jRhQ5Agp0pH6zX3KF9vYXHKLDX1-WvAh05DvjYTIcbtuuTvYKzTaTo-3KBzSX-af4zqnQjqwwUR3k9SAK8bj_zJK4FmWBQEKwz_Glt7MSwBHWXXK-0/w320-h133/best-bubble-belt-baines.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bob</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> even made sure to include a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">bubble blowing</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Athletic</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and yes I'll </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">continue to collect</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">copies</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> as well.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><i><span style="color: #999999;">Isn't this one of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">coolest belts</span><span style="color: #999999;"> ever?</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> It's by far the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">most unique piece</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Oakland A's</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">memorabilia</span><span style="color: #999999;"> in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">collection</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and I can't wait to wear it out.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">In addition to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">apparel</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bob</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> also sent me a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">separate package</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that contained a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">variety</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">items</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. In an effort to keep my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">posts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> straight to the point, I'm going to share </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three specific </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">A's</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">First up are these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1993</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> promo cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> featuring</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> two </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Oakland A's</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> hall of famers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWemGjUKcXJGTJZoIeyvpzkNsSNNQ5CwwRMScHf9Yk_rDLtxHOcwpyGihcIXOZXnKIQDJ4Jo4ByLRbjxoqATuvkbxAwQG8UskjX2rtdK5whYJy24TjfflMoElmQeymfVgG5wcNS3SLS7y4fl7jp3cBfGUeXl6ckeTWMRip09cFshONmO7Q_a00B34NCvE/s1025/best-bubble-promo-eck.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="731" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWemGjUKcXJGTJZoIeyvpzkNsSNNQ5CwwRMScHf9Yk_rDLtxHOcwpyGihcIXOZXnKIQDJ4Jo4ByLRbjxoqATuvkbxAwQG8UskjX2rtdK5whYJy24TjfflMoElmQeymfVgG5wcNS3SLS7y4fl7jp3cBfGUeXl6ckeTWMRip09cFshONmO7Q_a00B34NCvE/w143-h200/best-bubble-promo-eck.jpg" width="143" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTav5QL0hBhsD0jDqbxbHENgSL6EKM1LE6j6dx-yJs_rTm-l8VsK5CdgybmN7rXwVhR3xY1_pKgdWgxjjmYVDROQnqvEGeKgiknOdarozFXta0EucpdSVa1W9BaZV0vY-7uBf4sxVaWR_2RdrHDw2Dqo1UdwuLFccWLRx9joLXLuYL8jIPol7o34v7oFc/s1025/best-bubble-promo-eck2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="1025" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTav5QL0hBhsD0jDqbxbHENgSL6EKM1LE6j6dx-yJs_rTm-l8VsK5CdgybmN7rXwVhR3xY1_pKgdWgxjjmYVDROQnqvEGeKgiknOdarozFXta0EucpdSVa1W9BaZV0vY-7uBf4sxVaWR_2RdrHDw2Dqo1UdwuLFccWLRx9joLXLuYL8jIPol7o34v7oFc/w200-h141/best-bubble-promo-eck2.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1993 Fleer Ultra #NNO Paul Mullan & Dennis Eckersley</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-0TWjiX2xl1poUITytKjgzAQuuOD0U7GZva6xss1wxEWaUs8HnXArQloKoypD7sIrhGISHTtPcyj6zrNZDTv6X7li_4fT9b5UwdjKsVGNKRQYNWq55mEJWTR57cHUCxoOYrgOsHDoXRJ28sfTTd1plzMitXBA8kNx3cZGaNLNSFkzShNdi2WsiEAkiA/s1545/best-bubble-promo-jackson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1545" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-0TWjiX2xl1poUITytKjgzAQuuOD0U7GZva6xss1wxEWaUs8HnXArQloKoypD7sIrhGISHTtPcyj6zrNZDTv6X7li_4fT9b5UwdjKsVGNKRQYNWq55mEJWTR57cHUCxoOYrgOsHDoXRJ28sfTTd1plzMitXBA8kNx3cZGaNLNSFkzShNdi2WsiEAkiA/s320/best-bubble-promo-jackson.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1993 UD B.A.T. Triple Folders</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>All-Star FanFest Baltimore</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>Heroes of Baseball Previews #HOB-3</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Yup. I'll </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">continue to collect cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">both</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> of these guys</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. And I do enjoy me some </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">90's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">promo cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">f</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">inal card</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I wanted to share with you guys is this beauty:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZyL806bfRnCVJldT1sEGrBU69QhmfUdVlZ35mP3YtHxa4jhsK1XO_pffdLjGal9kN9dZwcJG-rbsruTBjwg_cyUvKoxcIsWb_DwbMzFXOSUDi8dgAVgimcvTwK3va0YvXGxXNw5kZwQvHewAIeMMLfTQJalUM8Ri2wKMF5NRzJj2vgnuaLZue937Ur0/s1100/best-bubble-52-red-man-joost.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1071" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ZyL806bfRnCVJldT1sEGrBU69QhmfUdVlZ35mP3YtHxa4jhsK1XO_pffdLjGal9kN9dZwcJG-rbsruTBjwg_cyUvKoxcIsWb_DwbMzFXOSUDi8dgAVgimcvTwK3va0YvXGxXNw5kZwQvHewAIeMMLfTQJalUM8Ri2wKMF5NRzJj2vgnuaLZue937Ur0/s320/best-bubble-52-red-man-joost.jpg" width="312" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1952 Red Man #12</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><div style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">It's crazy to think that this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> came out the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">same year</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> as the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1952 Topps Mickey Mantle</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOugo56HnEJzh9R-X3_icOvvRpxvHpFsEmgDtnJ5WwyUR-QD8mT3hf5H0eYoq57UxrDA6XohdsG_AUZXX30ePDdpU47paBVhmYwV1PRE_CE28e1ax6uAEEbDfttMr2PQ1TybcvfCuyA5eLnBT-TfijQm23nlJ5cW15qxD-XC6wokpFQM9RLXOOJTxj96A/s1100/best-bubble-52-red-man-joost2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1068" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOugo56HnEJzh9R-X3_icOvvRpxvHpFsEmgDtnJ5WwyUR-QD8mT3hf5H0eYoq57UxrDA6XohdsG_AUZXX30ePDdpU47paBVhmYwV1PRE_CE28e1ax6uAEEbDfttMr2PQ1TybcvfCuyA5eLnBT-TfijQm23nlJ5cW15qxD-XC6wokpFQM9RLXOOJTxj96A/s320/best-bubble-52-red-man-joost2.jpg" width="311" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">A's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> didn't arrive in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Oakland</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> until </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1968</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">four years</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> before I was born. But I've never had a problem of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collecting </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Athletics</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from their days in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Philadelphia</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kansas City</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">As for </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Vegas</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... I'll eventually figure out my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">allegiance</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Las Vegas Athletics</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Right now I'm </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">not happy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with their </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">ownership</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> nor do I want to put any money into his pockets. The wounds are too fresh. But </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">maybe</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with time. Then again... </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">maybe not</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Thank you</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Bob</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for all of these </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cool </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">A's</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> items</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. No doubt about it... they are all </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">truly appreciated</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Tuesday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-59491972339318796912023-12-28T15:00:00.000-08:002023-12-28T15:00:00.131-08:00Breaking the Rules<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOXKmTyAHWFav5ZFIr2xQ22vIBTT-8g9rXrkvdEyrKf50tmfrjghoB2hc23TMZSpvPvz3m6hli_Et8a1FS8nsVxVWDy_FDvvw7TP30F6OrUaB1LryG1iYcfhDl-UtwWSWbBrUqTxNbcZZUfX5NnAkj3ksGOFMlTrJt76We8WbKF01vMdQ9YZV_9WesMc/s2709/smm-2023-advent-calendar-cans-pop-fuji.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2709" data-original-width="1883" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOXKmTyAHWFav5ZFIr2xQ22vIBTT-8g9rXrkvdEyrKf50tmfrjghoB2hc23TMZSpvPvz3m6hli_Et8a1FS8nsVxVWDy_FDvvw7TP30F6OrUaB1LryG1iYcfhDl-UtwWSWbBrUqTxNbcZZUfX5NnAkj3ksGOFMlTrJt76We8WbKF01vMdQ9YZV_9WesMc/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-cans-pop-fuji.jpg" width="222" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Advent calendars</span><span style="color: #999999;"> have been around since the </span><a href="https://www.wgbh.org/news/national/2022-12-11/advent-calendars-explained-where-they-came-from-and-why-theyre-everywhere-now" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">19th century</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">... possibly even </span><a href="https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/26522/brief-history-advent-calendars" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">earlier</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">. My first experience with them was back in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">late</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">70's</span><span style="color: #999999;"> or </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">early</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">80's</span><span style="color: #999999;"> when one of my friends had one that gave him a piece of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">chocolate</span><span style="color: #999999;"> every day. I thought...</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> twenty-five pieces</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">chocolate</span><span style="color: #999999;">... that's awesome!</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">Not sure if my parents ever granted my wish and gave me one, but I've purchased a few </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Lego</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">advent calendars</span><span style="color: #999999;"> for myself over the years and have been receiving one from my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">buddy</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999;"> (</span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF8iUMXLkWGp9PSM82IUi4w" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">SumoMenkoMan</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">) </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">every year</span><span style="color: #999999;"> since </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">2021</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">If you've never seen them, I recommend you grab yourself some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">hot chocolate</span><span style="color: #999999;"> or a cup of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">eggnog</span><span style="color: #999999;">... and click </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2021/12/the-coolest-advent-calendar-ever.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> or </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2022/12/custom-built-personalized.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">. You won't be disappointed.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The thing that separates this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">advent calendar</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from others I've experienced is this one has been </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">tailor-made</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for me... which makes them that much more </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">special</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">appreciated</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Not only that... but he packages them individually and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">writes a note</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">each day</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Just like your </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">traditional advent calendar</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> has designed it for me to open </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one present each day</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> leading up to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Christmas</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Unfortunately </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">December</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is typically </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">crazier</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> than your average month... so it wasn't meant to be.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDg5AfjoRxDyJCTABBefQmX3fT3_S5hMj3bn0bU4Bqvei94drJzQSr28mfpkbg6qj9tfvdIW2s18RJBeK2siqfZyXa_xNiDizl0EC69_JwmTIuHmPKMAy-cmSvsa40-QauByki-2qnC-cFTcEejhV08WE6w9TIwF-IHXJgZMaktP2yTqlTKL5sSrQrD4/s2597/smm-2023-advent-calendar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1979" data-original-width="2597" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDg5AfjoRxDyJCTABBefQmX3fT3_S5hMj3bn0bU4Bqvei94drJzQSr28mfpkbg6qj9tfvdIW2s18RJBeK2siqfZyXa_xNiDizl0EC69_JwmTIuHmPKMAy-cmSvsa40-QauByki-2qnC-cFTcEejhV08WE6w9TIwF-IHXJgZMaktP2yTqlTKL5sSrQrD4/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">So I</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i> broke the advent calendar rules</i></b></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and started opening the presents up the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">day after</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Christmas</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The plan was to open up all </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">twenty-five presents</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and show them off in </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">documenting process</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> took much longer than anticipated.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">This year... I'm </span><i><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">breaking the rules</span></b></i><span style="color: #999999;">... and to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">breaking up this calendar</span><span style="color: #999999;"> into </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">four</span><span style="color: #999999;"> or </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">five posts</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOXKmTyAHWFav5ZFIr2xQ22vIBTT-8g9rXrkvdEyrKf50tmfrjghoB2hc23TMZSpvPvz3m6hli_Et8a1FS8nsVxVWDy_FDvvw7TP30F6OrUaB1LryG1iYcfhDl-UtwWSWbBrUqTxNbcZZUfX5NnAkj3ksGOFMlTrJt76We8WbKF01vMdQ9YZV_9WesMc/s2709/smm-2023-advent-calendar-cans-pop-fuji.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2709" data-original-width="1883" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOXKmTyAHWFav5ZFIr2xQ22vIBTT-8g9rXrkvdEyrKf50tmfrjghoB2hc23TMZSpvPvz3m6hli_Et8a1FS8nsVxVWDy_FDvvw7TP30F6OrUaB1LryG1iYcfhDl-UtwWSWbBrUqTxNbcZZUfX5NnAkj3ksGOFMlTrJt76We8WbKF01vMdQ9YZV_9WesMc/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-cans-pop-fuji.jpg" width="222" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">But before we get into the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first round</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">daily presents</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, let's discuss the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two cans</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Popfuji</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> tossed in as </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box toppers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I'm not a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">beer guy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but the next time I'm in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Southern California</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I'm going to track down some of these for my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">brother</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">wife</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">As for these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cans</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... I'm going to cut up one of these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cans</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and somehow display the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">logo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">other can</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> will go on my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Papa Fuji</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">shelf</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> next to his </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2023/12/truly-priceless.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">golf balls</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">,</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">business card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and other little </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">knickknacks</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I've collected of his. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Thank you </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... for </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">thinking of my father</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and for </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">building</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> this awesome </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">advent calendar</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Okay... without further ado, here are </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">December 1st</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> through </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">December 6th's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">presents</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">...</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 1st</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsP3X6WqLScTN6ZKvFnxYGYN3MKyKV3LubSXhMaDQsGenYgR6TczrgnTS6e-u2ZHxRIRkMawOJfgzBl0b1g2lF88Pa5_HqVcJvs5dfKXNQNDlkXLsGx1rkgd1iQCxjOB9fOZfkkSefaeYojvHD0tDwC5adPF6mzjJj5kCvCQfaflWkkQLO8Nf2TQ73SM/s1350/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="753" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsP3X6WqLScTN6ZKvFnxYGYN3MKyKV3LubSXhMaDQsGenYgR6TczrgnTS6e-u2ZHxRIRkMawOJfgzBl0b1g2lF88Pa5_HqVcJvs5dfKXNQNDlkXLsGx1rkgd1iQCxjOB9fOZfkkSefaeYojvHD0tDwC5adPF6mzjJj5kCvCQfaflWkkQLO8Nf2TQ73SM/w111-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day1.jpg" width="111" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>Undated Diecut & Embossed Santa</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_ijB53HiLW-igPqHwUrqASmqmlFpRwNd2_VVMKMnxuyfoS6gAFnnHoLactOj3tYTs9Fi9E5M8R13pzFhFW14f2BqPdDTkKALE1KsVACvpGWzwU_WXqBda1sIT853CxZOQXZ-R6X8T66MwTuX7D0S9FrmX92GjaDEgUu8ELxrvpJHS2Qpjk01pKbSqts/s1025/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day1b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1025" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_ijB53HiLW-igPqHwUrqASmqmlFpRwNd2_VVMKMnxuyfoS6gAFnnHoLactOj3tYTs9Fi9E5M8R13pzFhFW14f2BqPdDTkKALE1KsVACvpGWzwU_WXqBda1sIT853CxZOQXZ-R6X8T66MwTuX7D0S9FrmX92GjaDEgUu8ELxrvpJHS2Qpjk01pKbSqts/w200-h140/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day1b.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0PalR3zuEgnIdIEjjlvSyP_XsXDSfZimH07Mdr2HlTqu8Rrq5L5w0nyAqDuMkv5SoSReQOsql-RpOV5NKNx7HO2VRTpvyzCeQ1iNwH6h-aHLBEWc8d7vNjYy1_3jCqawqBaCLEYgLGJmhy_vGI6KYBYgWR6lTWimVxuFUHlNhNC2ArHiTSpagGG8QzA/s1025/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day1c.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="732" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL0PalR3zuEgnIdIEjjlvSyP_XsXDSfZimH07Mdr2HlTqu8Rrq5L5w0nyAqDuMkv5SoSReQOsql-RpOV5NKNx7HO2VRTpvyzCeQ1iNwH6h-aHLBEWc8d7vNjYy1_3jCqawqBaCLEYgLGJmhy_vGI6KYBYgWR6lTWimVxuFUHlNhNC2ArHiTSpagGG8QzA/w143-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day1c.jpg" width="143" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1994 Star Wars Galaxy Series 2 #148</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> kicked things off with some </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Santa</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one old</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one new</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to start the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">holiday season</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">!</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 2nd</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Let's go! Batter Up! </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Top of the order</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">23</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">more days</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to go. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYodXolyRJvSVGuNNMYNFoQT5yDE7W9n2jDGwBl7xnPwsm02O7hFvy9nPcRQNNgEeGajfHddf_e4pNVSudbPHRkr_V0rp_Nme-zw65G2y-CfGgpFDHbDnGbGGVpBw1nIvVIMPI5eXEoFR3kk9gnwjLBG5OApK-42DZ_oZYtbC70PPQw0Gbcl3z71ZR5E/s1250/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="948" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYodXolyRJvSVGuNNMYNFoQT5yDE7W9n2jDGwBl7xnPwsm02O7hFvy9nPcRQNNgEeGajfHddf_e4pNVSudbPHRkr_V0rp_Nme-zw65G2y-CfGgpFDHbDnGbGGVpBw1nIvVIMPI5eXEoFR3kk9gnwjLBG5OApK-42DZ_oZYtbC70PPQw0Gbcl3z71ZR5E/w152-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day2.jpg" width="152" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBLg8adep47Dw5aHWVfR7WTkhTxIr5EVuaaWzFoJq67W5twF5MrLRUQW__ep8gaP9GQrtHiVvgEMFIzt0lYy_rVlO8-mU3rfeJffNwibhyTEtOaQ9rK_Lbz_TPLNGdDxS4xNUVL144H1c1Jx7lnrd5t5yt4-G6keJgoTzVHgAPXZbHkGv07XpcCZo3WM/s1250/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day2b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="949" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBLg8adep47Dw5aHWVfR7WTkhTxIr5EVuaaWzFoJq67W5twF5MrLRUQW__ep8gaP9GQrtHiVvgEMFIzt0lYy_rVlO8-mU3rfeJffNwibhyTEtOaQ9rK_Lbz_TPLNGdDxS4xNUVL144H1c1Jx7lnrd5t5yt4-G6keJgoTzVHgAPXZbHkGv07XpcCZo3WM/w152-h200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day2b.jpg" width="152" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1995 Donruss Top of the Order Starter Deck</i></b></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'm looking forward to the day when I can sit down, open this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">starter deck</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> up, and write a post about what's inside. But right now, it's on to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">third present</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 3rd</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">On the</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> third day</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">December</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">buddy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> gave to me. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Three packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">YoYoExpert</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">trading cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl6abWSux2AwEMVvWHtIZ_NRij-Jq0FOZJfnP37xNKSH_EbEkWobv8C_GggCDbU7Jk9azy04XSBKBiRANmwb-NaWp8x03erCsStfnEiXsWlZtAHN9z7LeormFXJnzkZF3HVNTFHhG4VaSONxzCbsBvyTKPi9db_ZYeahvSEpstVxZzDdoZA9lpiDuKo0/s1744/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1744" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvl6abWSux2AwEMVvWHtIZ_NRij-Jq0FOZJfnP37xNKSH_EbEkWobv8C_GggCDbU7Jk9azy04XSBKBiRANmwb-NaWp8x03erCsStfnEiXsWlZtAHN9z7LeormFXJnzkZF3HVNTFHhG4VaSONxzCbsBvyTKPi9db_ZYeahvSEpstVxZzDdoZA9lpiDuKo0/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2017 YoYoExpert Trading Card Packs</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">Never even knew there were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">professional yo-yo players</span><span style="color: #999999;">... or </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">trading cards</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of them. I opened up </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">one</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">packs</span><span style="color: #999999;">. The plan is to write my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">first post</span><span style="color: #999999;"> over on </span><a href="https://apacktobenamedlater.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: red;">A Pack to Be Named Later</span></i></b></a><span style="color: #999999;"> in over </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">six years</span><span style="color: #999999;">, so stay tuned.</span></span><div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 4th</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">More </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">! This time it's </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Chinese Marvel</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVktqcH3NQ1DkORTAdtxi3nAxWVq-8gO2TwmhuiFSqt53SMCJ_rxGsEwQNgPUxxveu-DXSy4oQDGILDBt8VMOrA1RA5B24OeBjoHp_SsfVWXAnS5wtYtKXH8Y3HwM0-H2LxrQLeEpIyCr7rcHc22gesHLzUoeaC1vI-fnw_cd6fnBQvTcVf8FMu9sJgI8/s1830/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1498" data-original-width="1830" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVktqcH3NQ1DkORTAdtxi3nAxWVq-8gO2TwmhuiFSqt53SMCJ_rxGsEwQNgPUxxveu-DXSy4oQDGILDBt8VMOrA1RA5B24OeBjoHp_SsfVWXAnS5wtYtKXH8Y3HwM0-H2LxrQLeEpIyCr7rcHc22gesHLzUoeaC1vI-fnw_cd6fnBQvTcVf8FMu9sJgI8/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day4.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I opened up </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one of these</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to check them out. Not sure if I'll have a chance to document it over on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">APTBNL</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, so I'll just share my results here:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpswLPkblGMN9BeBi_8hRLTg1gGs_z2OvTE3MhkTbOwxTPiSHsRS_BHKgeiMnsy50BrLRoKEMbey7UryfTZa26LLzl0m8n0PhrZXix8I7lN8LPXU7rH5oe-r1VBEo9SSf-DqRoIJ0sZpu4fJ3DvI8q7aBE3Yuv_smrlQKkuoG9B4wknit5Q_yvu80Mjgw/s1200/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day3b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="1200" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpswLPkblGMN9BeBi_8hRLTg1gGs_z2OvTE3MhkTbOwxTPiSHsRS_BHKgeiMnsy50BrLRoKEMbey7UryfTZa26LLzl0m8n0PhrZXix8I7lN8LPXU7rH5oe-r1VBEo9SSf-DqRoIJ0sZpu4fJ3DvI8q7aBE3Yuv_smrlQKkuoG9B4wknit5Q_yvu80Mjgw/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day3b.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Not sure if anyone cares... but the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Hulk</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the middle has some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">gold foil</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> added to it. <i>Maybe something </i></span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"><i>special</i></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><i>?</i> Maybe not.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 5th</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Even more </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">! <br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKBNcQSJblxr7bxugd_oXz-P_6V3A6w-75qjJxguCaI-kQ9JL2lrwgEoBm4kVWD3pxE_zavVCYCFxrXX1ZeKUATrKMtSA7xQu0Lw0bknhxqEZFwVrDgYNM_NCpqBLfR9_KyaGv6qF91HPDKkFxl1_v87ur_zgXBYlSuyOewSZCQ25B16UvHTQPENA55M/s1923/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1923" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKBNcQSJblxr7bxugd_oXz-P_6V3A6w-75qjJxguCaI-kQ9JL2lrwgEoBm4kVWD3pxE_zavVCYCFxrXX1ZeKUATrKMtSA7xQu0Lw0bknhxqEZFwVrDgYNM_NCpqBLfR9_KyaGv6qF91HPDKkFxl1_v87ur_zgXBYlSuyOewSZCQ25B16UvHTQPENA55M/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day5.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">You're looking at </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">five packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"> Cul</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> (pronounced "</span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cool</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">") </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Heroes</span><span style="color: #999999;">... which are </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Irish</span><span style="color: #999999;"> trading cards. Looks like I have more APTBNL post material in 2024. But if you don't want to wait... and are curious about these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999;"> posted a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">review</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of them over on </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">YouTube</span><span style="color: #999999;">. If you're interested in watching it, click </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc7Fjquk2rw" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">December 6th</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Heck yeah! More </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHb_h4aHaehPjiI8_8x6dU355ZKWV4MAZSL0onjVyr3G13Ff1NKYLrbZgbmQFdgxKSAheXFX9P8d3USsblVct9kGyrYOh9YC35JBfBGdele2EhXKRzednYrPafEw9KO1sdj4xpFW3AKLVf-C5L3WLKeiZTgKsfVEX0Dd_nGa1zWqNyxGtph81eXS5wyek/s1902/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1902" data-original-width="1774" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHb_h4aHaehPjiI8_8x6dU355ZKWV4MAZSL0onjVyr3G13Ff1NKYLrbZgbmQFdgxKSAheXFX9P8d3USsblVct9kGyrYOh9YC35JBfBGdele2EhXKRzednYrPafEw9KO1sdj4xpFW3AKLVf-C5L3WLKeiZTgKsfVEX0Dd_nGa1zWqNyxGtph81eXS5wyek/s320/smm-2023-advent-calendar-day6.jpg" width="298" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1995 Sport Flix Packs</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">Looks like someone already wrote a </span><a href="https://apacktobenamedlater.blogspot.com/2009/05/1995-sport-flix.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">review</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> of this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">product</span><span style="color: #999999;"> on </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">APTBNL</span><span style="color: #999999;">, but these will be heading into the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">rainy day pack stash</span><span style="color: #999999;">. Sure hope the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Bay Area</span><span style="color: #999999;"> has another </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">wet winter</span><span style="color: #999999;">, because I've got a lot of stuff to open.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Well that wraps up the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first six days</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">December</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I've already opened up the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">December 7th</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">envelope</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and it contained some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pretty special packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ryan's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">original plan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was to make this an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">unopened pack advent calendar</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I told him that he should market a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">wax pack advent calendar</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. My guess is there are plenty of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collectors</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> out there who would be interested in ripping open </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">twenty-five packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">December</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. And I'm guessing most </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collectors</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> would </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"><i>stick to the rules</i></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and open them up </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one per day</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Thursday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div></div></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-90531022455458777322023-12-27T10:30:00.000-08:002023-12-27T10:30:00.128-08:00Truly Priceless<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELZ0ftiUNlZJ3zUdZTETHSKguvR2XR21OrTCm5WTaX35AdDG1z8WU3tEuG-c9vgw9mFu2GPA-HRAIAD-RsFASGKgXWm2ludpGyLv7j6Hxjso1CrpT4ubTW005Rou2bWDfZ78lQJX0ibCPVN4zKoAvkK5Pk_AAKyI8D0zaN7EInE2zg9q4bATbVQjGuB0/s1250/papafuji-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1250" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELZ0ftiUNlZJ3zUdZTETHSKguvR2XR21OrTCm5WTaX35AdDG1z8WU3tEuG-c9vgw9mFu2GPA-HRAIAD-RsFASGKgXWm2ludpGyLv7j6Hxjso1CrpT4ubTW005Rou2bWDfZ78lQJX0ibCPVN4zKoAvkK5Pk_AAKyI8D0zaN7EInE2zg9q4bATbVQjGuB0/s320/papafuji-1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">According to </span><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/priceless#:~:text=Kids%20Definition-,priceless,be%20bought%20at%20any%20price" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Merriam-Webster</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">, the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">definition</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of the word "</span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">priceless</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">" is </span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">too valuable to have a price</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> or </span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">not to be bought at any price</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Today's post focuses on some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">truly priceless collectibles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... at least to me. In fact when my parents started to ask my siblings and I about what we wanted to be passed down to them, the only things that came to mind were my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">father's hole-in-one golf balls</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">My </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">father</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> always said he was too small to play sports like </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">basketball</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">football</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... so he stuck to sports like </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">boxing</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">bowling</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">skiing</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">golf</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. And out of those four... I think most people will remember him for his love of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">golf</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'm sure it played a part in my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">parent's decision</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">retire</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Las Vegas</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. They bought a house in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Summerlin</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and although it wasn't located right on the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">golf course</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... it was literally a stone's throw away.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlUB86zoJRflf2ObLJjAK_jzHL6SAE97uoOmkvXqsLjK3giy3sWtLWupX3uomGNPQGzYhCM8zRXqEOTaqufTpl6iVhH2goD6Aa5ScNZclwXQScfRjJmJB7sKHq7Z-rpCR6IpVh3a5x-NcossRx2kqtSEmtqH2ZeAWCHpCmdp3Cfbg6Nf5PFZ1EblcpNE/s1645/dad-holeinone-1st.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1645" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlUB86zoJRflf2ObLJjAK_jzHL6SAE97uoOmkvXqsLjK3giy3sWtLWupX3uomGNPQGzYhCM8zRXqEOTaqufTpl6iVhH2goD6Aa5ScNZclwXQScfRjJmJB7sKHq7Z-rpCR6IpVh3a5x-NcossRx2kqtSEmtqH2ZeAWCHpCmdp3Cfbg6Nf5PFZ1EblcpNE/s320/dad-holeinone-1st.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Now I won't presume that every </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">golfer's dream</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is to hit a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hole-in-one</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but I know I hope I do one day. I've come </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three inches</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> away... but I'm still waiting for my day in the sun. My </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">father</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> waited decades, but exactly </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">twenty-two years ago</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">December 27th</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2001</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... he finally sunk his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first hole-in-one</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. It happened on the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">12th</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hole </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">at the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Eagle Crest Golf Course</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... which happens to be less than </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1,000</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">feet</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from their doorstep.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Last summer</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, it was obvious that my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">father</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> wasn't going to be going back there to live... so we took a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">family vacation</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with all of his</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> children </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">grandchildren</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">. I showed off some of the items I brought back in a </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2023/07/family-heirlooms-and-minor-delay.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">post</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">July</span><span style="color: #999999;">, but I intentionally left the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">golf balls</span><span style="color: #999999;"> out of it.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">That's because they deserve a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of their own. Here is </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Papa Fuji's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first hole-in-one ball</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNg2Taa9OGOqCPmCRmChMFhoMcooQ_-ZTajo6ODEBLxWGf4tbm5eGze-BJpiT4AfkLgexzdHlBOiL-H6bhZpuD4MxrXTrQL4DUJGJ6pxFuIqCRlchxOQaoHg5CvnMDi9E3-IogMwOCvOie9LeUG1Em7qkg3H4KsY4_WE6ZydbtU1ymlKVRjPMQVc2WGg/s2086/dad-holeinone-1st-ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2086" data-original-width="2004" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmNg2Taa9OGOqCPmCRmChMFhoMcooQ_-ZTajo6ODEBLxWGf4tbm5eGze-BJpiT4AfkLgexzdHlBOiL-H6bhZpuD4MxrXTrQL4DUJGJ6pxFuIqCRlchxOQaoHg5CvnMDi9E3-IogMwOCvOie9LeUG1Em7qkg3H4KsY4_WE6ZydbtU1ymlKVRjPMQVc2WGg/w192-h200/dad-holeinone-1st-ball.jpg" width="192" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Less than a year later</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">August 24</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2002</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... he shot his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">second</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">final hole-in-one</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> at another local </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">golf course</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Highland Falls Golf Club</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Here's that ball:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02wBpiMhw2GFNCvuC8dbLtHmz4nFcrXjd6syyZup0ghAFtCiCtxxp4P4PXMRnijdxA3MBzGBfV9Dx1po9KY4AXroJDropxVgdkKOZ03xPJ42hiEalZk2xSZE-FXk5bZBsVg0HSJ5RSubvKVlATwIWo2gYTpM96C3T_dpJ1B7FPfCFVxUdDvr4OtordQc/s1394/dad-holeinone-2nd-ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1394" data-original-width="1360" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg02wBpiMhw2GFNCvuC8dbLtHmz4nFcrXjd6syyZup0ghAFtCiCtxxp4P4PXMRnijdxA3MBzGBfV9Dx1po9KY4AXroJDropxVgdkKOZ03xPJ42hiEalZk2xSZE-FXk5bZBsVg0HSJ5RSubvKVlATwIWo2gYTpM96C3T_dpJ1B7FPfCFVxUdDvr4OtordQc/w195-h200/dad-holeinone-2nd-ball.jpg" width="195" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">What's cool about this one is he had </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">all of his buddies</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> who were there </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sign it</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. This is a little out of the ordinary, since my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">father</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> never understood my obsession with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">autographs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. But he was thoughtful enough to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sign this photo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> years ago for me:</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELZ0ftiUNlZJ3zUdZTETHSKguvR2XR21OrTCm5WTaX35AdDG1z8WU3tEuG-c9vgw9mFu2GPA-HRAIAD-RsFASGKgXWm2ludpGyLv7j6Hxjso1CrpT4ubTW005Rou2bWDfZ78lQJX0ibCPVN4zKoAvkK5Pk_AAKyI8D0zaN7EInE2zg9q4bATbVQjGuB0/s1250/papafuji-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1250" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgELZ0ftiUNlZJ3zUdZTETHSKguvR2XR21OrTCm5WTaX35AdDG1z8WU3tEuG-c9vgw9mFu2GPA-HRAIAD-RsFASGKgXWm2ludpGyLv7j6Hxjso1CrpT4ubTW005Rou2bWDfZ78lQJX0ibCPVN4zKoAvkK5Pk_AAKyI8D0zaN7EInE2zg9q4bATbVQjGuB0/s320/papafuji-1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">Yup. </span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Priceless</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">What's funny is what's </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">priceless</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to me... is </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">meaningless</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to others... since outside of me and possibly a few </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">family members</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... none of the items in this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> hold any </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">monetary</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> or </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sentimental value</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. But that's okay, because the aren't for sale anyways.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Wednesday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-47519937029276880212023-12-25T09:00:00.000-08:002023-12-25T09:00:00.135-08:00Damaged Santa & a Pair of Trees<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Hope all of you are enjoying yourselves on the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">merriest day of the year</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. By the time you're reading this, I'll be hanging out over at my brother's eating </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">fried rice</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">breakfast</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. It's a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">family tradition</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> started by my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">parents</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> a long time ago.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Anyways... here's a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I purchased back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">October</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CcgiAJ0it13GbU_21GyBzSUgNvDAeN3FdzthYvmQqWVPI8FzFdehy7RWk1UY59cnE_HIpxOkY9OoWQNJcY8fQNHO2zCD6RqK3OogzpVTiFaycD2Y2FzJiX4LwfyXFPExQ08ElGFrbw3LbSUjJXq6caqGS2x35k8Pf6R6jJeIwIFislot4WTOhFTeZEI/s1501/1998-relic-santa-claus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="1501" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1CcgiAJ0it13GbU_21GyBzSUgNvDAeN3FdzthYvmQqWVPI8FzFdehy7RWk1UY59cnE_HIpxOkY9OoWQNJcY8fQNHO2zCD6RqK3OogzpVTiFaycD2Y2FzJiX4LwfyXFPExQ08ElGFrbw3LbSUjJXq6caqGS2x35k8Pf6R6jJeIwIFislot4WTOhFTeZEI/s320/1998-relic-santa-claus.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1998 Upper Deck Holiday Worn Jersey #NNO</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I've been looking for this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for a few years, but they never seem to fall within my price range. Well due to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">poor condition</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I was able to win it in an </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">eBay</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">auction</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$6.05</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (+ </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$5.82</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">tax</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> & </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">shipping</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL53_P_fLfHnUwmJhMNDQed2fI1JH7llqfpbiE1q72FGSwU0El2Izub_0dAu7Mcn9jjBJ4PncEobWG-cWWkp29rroMfH-ibxcqBxDm7Z4pc8uLoeIkrbm01LEGPip4ZEch8ThTSvpd-O_KN283kYGn9aCS0-539G6zpIRGQPfWNQs_chhlPTXVH88fugc/s1507/1998-relic-santa-claus2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="1507" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL53_P_fLfHnUwmJhMNDQed2fI1JH7llqfpbiE1q72FGSwU0El2Izub_0dAu7Mcn9jjBJ4PncEobWG-cWWkp29rroMfH-ibxcqBxDm7Z4pc8uLoeIkrbm01LEGPip4ZEch8ThTSvpd-O_KN283kYGn9aCS0-539G6zpIRGQPfWNQs_chhlPTXVH88fugc/s320/1998-relic-santa-claus2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">If you look closely above the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kris Kringle</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">facsimile signature</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, there's a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">heavy crease</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> which the seller pointed out in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">auction description</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Truth be told... I was hoping the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">crease</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was the only issue. But when I opened up the package, the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card's corners</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">surface</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and some of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">edges</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> are worn.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I knew the risk when I bid on the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">auction</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, so I can't complain. On the bright side... the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Island of Misfit Toys</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (also known as my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Damaged Card PC</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">) has a new </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">family member</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'll wrap up this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">very merry </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Christmas</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two card trees</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The first one is made up with this year's selection of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">gift cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">students</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbPkxs9guEFzXgd4ekoTVGJtBmqgfgFECoVgXMar1vvJ-GOsVkjAHFJzMWDJWpq16OUH3RROk_mmwgKjbRIoaFYEVk-wCRoUV5CfpyrFNp8LJbHavE5LckJ1ji3okTDRm8BgUTQZuWaA1DLEO50AyxTzvYg86mlHQkJXZOERTDeqoYgNXUY30bd0CKcY/s2946/christmas-2023.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2184" data-original-width="2946" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitbPkxs9guEFzXgd4ekoTVGJtBmqgfgFECoVgXMar1vvJ-GOsVkjAHFJzMWDJWpq16OUH3RROk_mmwgKjbRIoaFYEVk-wCRoUV5CfpyrFNp8LJbHavE5LckJ1ji3okTDRm8BgUTQZuWaA1DLEO50AyxTzvYg86mlHQkJXZOERTDeqoYgNXUY30bd0CKcY/s320/christmas-2023.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'm hoping there are still some </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Topps Archives</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blasters</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> available on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Target's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">website</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. If so, that's what I'll use that </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">gift card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on. Otherwise... I'll use it on a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Lego</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Here's the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">other tree</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I made:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRmMehysTLX2nlL6yUl2jepKg2EzBPdTa6fgzuRpI6fBWvXYfAT_gM-aC6FG9QUYa1x4xewbhLkCj41DgGBD_TY394W4ox2tsWiW8DqJe0rvD3neICsZskFQrT2_JgrNluyo_tNXHW2O-kvgCDaw1YfWlyPbshq5I-eynPV06dQ35fdr4F1VhyNQn3-E/s1891/christmas-2023b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1749" data-original-width="1891" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRmMehysTLX2nlL6yUl2jepKg2EzBPdTa6fgzuRpI6fBWvXYfAT_gM-aC6FG9QUYa1x4xewbhLkCj41DgGBD_TY394W4ox2tsWiW8DqJe0rvD3neICsZskFQrT2_JgrNluyo_tNXHW2O-kvgCDaw1YfWlyPbshq5I-eynPV06dQ35fdr4F1VhyNQn3-E/s320/christmas-2023b.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">These are the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">thank you cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I hand out to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">students</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. This </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">photo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was taken before I handed a few out... so </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">inventory</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is quickly drying up. Sadly </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> removed these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">custom cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from their </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">online store</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Hopefully they bring them back soon... or these will be last </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">autographed cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I pass out to my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">students</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Well that's a wrap. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Merry Christmas</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-4485482382198727492023-12-23T13:56:00.000-08:002023-12-23T13:56:38.433-08:00Straight to the Point<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXh4LeRqqqbFlFAxCz1JIn2hyTJjcl1YmaXx04UvWx2hvwKYDXL63ovMM0FGSkxtMh_wWTR8HQNjqTDdSwTtrg2docegdIlrtrU4pFK7Vct-G6v7fgVgTfQiJZsxw6wz1Bi2isDBXNCYJ0J8QcPcmIZSK1t272Y-WoXRUEnJJJOW-fWvLzoDMADwoB5o/s1050/chris-collector-2023-hrabosky2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1050" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXh4LeRqqqbFlFAxCz1JIn2hyTJjcl1YmaXx04UvWx2hvwKYDXL63ovMM0FGSkxtMh_wWTR8HQNjqTDdSwTtrg2docegdIlrtrU4pFK7Vct-G6v7fgVgTfQiJZsxw6wz1Bi2isDBXNCYJ0J8QcPcmIZSK1t272Y-WoXRUEnJJJOW-fWvLzoDMADwoB5o/w400-h292/chris-collector-2023-hrabosky2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">It's been </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">eleven days</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> since my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">last post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and I've already dropped the ball on my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blogger goal</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of publishing </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one post a week</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> leading up to the holidays. Had I taken a few minutes to look over the calendar, I would have been able foreseen this issue.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The week leading up to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">holiday break</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is always a hectic. There were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two holiday parties</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (both work related)... dinner with some former students... end of the semester projects... and of course some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">last minute </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Christmas</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> shopping</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">friends</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">family</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br />Plus my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">brother</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is throwing his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">annual holiday party</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> this afternoon, but before I head out for that... I'm going to hammer out a post. That might sound like one of those </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2022/08/revised-old-challenge.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">fifteen minute posts</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">, but anyone familiar with those... knows it's impossible for me to write a post in that timeframe.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">That being said... I am going to make it as </span><b><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">straight to the point</span></i></b><span style="color: #999999;"> as possible.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">Today's </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">post </span><span style="color: #999999;">focuses on a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">pair</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of PWE's from </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Chris</span><span style="color: #999999;"> a.k.a. </span><i><a href="https://thepedestriancollector.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: red;">The Collector</span></b></a></i><span style="color: #999999;">. Both were sent to me earlier in the year. One was right around the start of the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">MLB</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">season</span><span style="color: #999999;">... and the other during the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">summer</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Here's </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">quick glance</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> at what </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Chris</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> packed into these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">envelopes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6y7BCpu-O-tH8OGmlfWHEVGVqYLaC-AT28foWoSnAQPtaVBI8fHEaKb-AzMdXAirID43bDhPKOrh7tEtkHTFxUfrF2ojtmaiIaEXZm9aZUreqCO2vHKlxa69FC4j8eJEJa36n3Y1Zww_T9Fiv3uJ6SD1ygRXiraIAhrFQ2aBsblto4BJ_vTDwQFu2aE/s2922/chris-collector-2023-pwe2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2323" data-original-width="2922" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6y7BCpu-O-tH8OGmlfWHEVGVqYLaC-AT28foWoSnAQPtaVBI8fHEaKb-AzMdXAirID43bDhPKOrh7tEtkHTFxUfrF2ojtmaiIaEXZm9aZUreqCO2vHKlxa69FC4j8eJEJa36n3Y1Zww_T9Fiv3uJ6SD1ygRXiraIAhrFQ2aBsblto4BJ_vTDwQFu2aE/w243-h194/chris-collector-2023-pwe2.jpg" width="243" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfoskkwLJtgdAd2hbVvB9EStyz8CGRNw116eJiPAGXpZiC6OQJVn1XBuehQKSMbm5_nmbUJ_CDa2xkOy3ZpT8b6GrERnK56XhiisnEOf091VfkztCW-Eid5kZnliPedK0ci9XG5vV23Yz0Ueq_o9A9_0QXieFbjLCMP3RIiJSTCYgkAGdN3eGgcgugNg/s3503/chris-collector-2023-pwe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2232" data-original-width="3503" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfoskkwLJtgdAd2hbVvB9EStyz8CGRNw116eJiPAGXpZiC6OQJVn1XBuehQKSMbm5_nmbUJ_CDa2xkOy3ZpT8b6GrERnK56XhiisnEOf091VfkztCW-Eid5kZnliPedK0ci9XG5vV23Yz0Ueq_o9A9_0QXieFbjLCMP3RIiJSTCYgkAGdN3eGgcgugNg/w302-h193/chris-collector-2023-pwe.jpg" width="302" /></a></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">There's a lot of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cool stuff</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sitting in front of me... but since I've got less than </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two hours</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> until I need to head over to my brother's... I'll focus on these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">ten</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">#1</span><span style="color: #999999;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">2019 Topps Chrome Update 150 Years of Professional Baseball #150C-4</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIt-jJlM2LVRE2RUjob9ePXuH_PJzhg8R4qGz5yledHTvPxkT2sKV4EN3UDiCDJbVnyeHvV_JLtBalyWd1PcCZX2oV-EbIPknMwKy1Jp4LOIOcK9px_depoMk1XsdFv76fhPMmGsn2sXAdThyphenhyphenMtBLIVaUaynC0fmm8fHvFFQhh1WUwYtBQnVjaTUIVgIg/s1025/chris-collector-2023-rickey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="728" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIt-jJlM2LVRE2RUjob9ePXuH_PJzhg8R4qGz5yledHTvPxkT2sKV4EN3UDiCDJbVnyeHvV_JLtBalyWd1PcCZX2oV-EbIPknMwKy1Jp4LOIOcK9px_depoMk1XsdFv76fhPMmGsn2sXAdThyphenhyphenMtBLIVaUaynC0fmm8fHvFFQhh1WUwYtBQnVjaTUIVgIg/w142-h200/chris-collector-2023-rickey.jpg" width="142" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Right out of the page, this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> caught my eye. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> gave these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">inserts</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> the "</span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">refractor</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">" treatment, so it shines when you tilt it at the right angle. It also features my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">second favorite baseball player of all-time</span><span style="color: #999999;">... which is a nice bonus.</span></span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">#2</span><span style="color: #999999;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">1988-89 Fleer #42</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrwKmDNH1aktcFkNJjf4it9mZTN4C7vMVebBfuDltDloI-lVqXMKEo4SpLEYirBby96ciyL6b1nMG7Fb8gL2gZM1f_wDNuxAUkB29393ZMMzP_FY8Iu4pkrWS-jSQcK5ZnzEmhbP9hBE_pThuJvX02pgKMt3CeBOEGvcve0hTFfucJiVDez4UYOZlKR4/s1050/chris-collector-2023-laimbeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="757" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrwKmDNH1aktcFkNJjf4it9mZTN4C7vMVebBfuDltDloI-lVqXMKEo4SpLEYirBby96ciyL6b1nMG7Fb8gL2gZM1f_wDNuxAUkB29393ZMMzP_FY8Iu4pkrWS-jSQcK5ZnzEmhbP9hBE_pThuJvX02pgKMt3CeBOEGvcve0hTFfucJiVDez4UYOZlKR4/w144-h200/chris-collector-2023-laimbeer.jpg" width="144" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Hate</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">player</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Love</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">#3</span><span style="color: #999999;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">1977 Topps #495</span></b></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXh4LeRqqqbFlFAxCz1JIn2hyTJjcl1YmaXx04UvWx2hvwKYDXL63ovMM0FGSkxtMh_wWTR8HQNjqTDdSwTtrg2docegdIlrtrU4pFK7Vct-G6v7fgVgTfQiJZsxw6wz1Bi2isDBXNCYJ0J8QcPcmIZSK1t272Y-WoXRUEnJJJOW-fWvLzoDMADwoB5o/s1050/chris-collector-2023-hrabosky2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1050" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsXh4LeRqqqbFlFAxCz1JIn2hyTJjcl1YmaXx04UvWx2hvwKYDXL63ovMM0FGSkxtMh_wWTR8HQNjqTDdSwTtrg2docegdIlrtrU4pFK7Vct-G6v7fgVgTfQiJZsxw6wz1Bi2isDBXNCYJ0J8QcPcmIZSK1t272Y-WoXRUEnJJJOW-fWvLzoDMADwoB5o/w200-h146/chris-collector-2023-hrabosky2.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I love me some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">vintage wax stained cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... especially when the feature a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hobby favorite</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and owner of one of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">coolest nicknames</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sports history</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGowzRnCa4EufMOjaHWKKZgvy5ob_MClTfb3IPhkmC93YUrjSqVle11YsTYf2cuztTSBx0pbZW_uNV6sN_L7VvwlzLc7-LyrJbfUjU3Jssu5oICZD-EcAUzqTHFdpXSqOD0kMpGoh2p499Dd44gl14OXJkPUQo_3zog2Q-Rf8bADJK8mwFuJnUCVNIcm0/s1050/chris-collector-2023-hrabosky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="755" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGowzRnCa4EufMOjaHWKKZgvy5ob_MClTfb3IPhkmC93YUrjSqVle11YsTYf2cuztTSBx0pbZW_uNV6sN_L7VvwlzLc7-LyrJbfUjU3Jssu5oICZD-EcAUzqTHFdpXSqOD0kMpGoh2p499Dd44gl14OXJkPUQo_3zog2Q-Rf8bADJK8mwFuJnUCVNIcm0/w144-h200/chris-collector-2023-hrabosky.jpg" width="144" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><i><b>The Mad Hungarian</b></i></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">#4</span><span style="color: #999999;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">2021-22 Upper Deck Allure #29</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZRTzSy-piUmGL4n3koVP03rStVfvTaVjE6m_x9ZxNKfyeqkmtDsrbVPQ2LAbMzpf63b7otqk3_Es9674XHS7KP6XJ6AY13bVlCo6oZbcsj3tIP2Eb2uyGEaGRZ3cjtKKTdLmltQUAln3BOVkApMEMgGrJknq21KQvKSfRsCPcTqJQKUaxIj0gKRxh9g/s1025/chris-collector-2023-yamamoto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="724" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZRTzSy-piUmGL4n3koVP03rStVfvTaVjE6m_x9ZxNKfyeqkmtDsrbVPQ2LAbMzpf63b7otqk3_Es9674XHS7KP6XJ6AY13bVlCo6oZbcsj3tIP2Eb2uyGEaGRZ3cjtKKTdLmltQUAln3BOVkApMEMgGrJknq21KQvKSfRsCPcTqJQKUaxIj0gKRxh9g/w141-h200/chris-collector-2023-yamamoto.jpg" width="141" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I apologize if this isn't the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Yamamoto</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> you were looking for... but I'm still </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">very happy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to add this</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">binder</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">#5</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1983 Fleer #326</span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhk97ZF_ECFa6OM8786wuL6jmsGF8gNl7igvK9zaGtQGVhQue8V2tdsMFl9-CnmOEfkCICUMGD7wy_mmTp7S-j2kf-5tNPsM0XjTNHiEtdp30uc7PXN83I4rQJ817WtZA4lkVdeaTV15s07ZZSZeoNQ54QrjqzirywohUda1hVg08cW3cDzcyT2sPVZQ/s1025/chris-collector-2023-tekulve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="735" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhk97ZF_ECFa6OM8786wuL6jmsGF8gNl7igvK9zaGtQGVhQue8V2tdsMFl9-CnmOEfkCICUMGD7wy_mmTp7S-j2kf-5tNPsM0XjTNHiEtdp30uc7PXN83I4rQJ817WtZA4lkVdeaTV15s07ZZSZeoNQ54QrjqzirywohUda1hVg08cW3cDzcyT2sPVZQ/w143-h200/chris-collector-2023-tekulve.jpg" width="143" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Another </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hobby favorite</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">favorite relief pitcher</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">early</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">80's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">#6</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2022 Prestige Xtra Points Astral #387</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BbQ_DwgD6vqfG-16I9e-eq8EMRBQtPATlW6hhqFQylTmyq9kEJFOCr4SybaRx5gk1ZzbjmSVhBxRA81rblnyUxmN-nSWWST10bMHJdYmwX0oVAQmIa2dZzxQ3I_y5uSPyJm3T3bfNaqpPtzOGPLuP4bLzpYb6ARSJv8Xrdcq_-QU_tRFikgScTGVbdk/s1025/chris-collector-2023-mafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="729" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7BbQ_DwgD6vqfG-16I9e-eq8EMRBQtPATlW6hhqFQylTmyq9kEJFOCr4SybaRx5gk1ZzbjmSVhBxRA81rblnyUxmN-nSWWST10bMHJdYmwX0oVAQmIa2dZzxQ3I_y5uSPyJm3T3bfNaqpPtzOGPLuP4bLzpYb6ARSJv8Xrdcq_-QU_tRFikgScTGVbdk/w143-h200/chris-collector-2023-mafe.jpg" width="143" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'm pretty sure I </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">jinxed</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> this guy. A few months ago... </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Chris</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> wrote a </span><a href="https://thepedestriancollector.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-franchise-nfc-stars.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">post</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> featuring his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">franchise player picks</span><span style="color: #999999;"> for each </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">NFC</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">team</span><span style="color: #999999;">. I mentioned </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Mafe</span><span style="color: #999999;"> who was having a solid season up to that point. Since then... not so much.</span></span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">#7</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2022 Bowman #68</span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNa7sIMUE42TBkOcd4koAUO3PMeZvZyniW2gcvZqNdMmHFQDIHG_CictCc5oGMGgGWi77VVdI8gqXbyK3QzUS4jBItZn6HXxQeg7PnVIN1CIfGXY3GjysDZ5s-YeVm65X9M1Go2yddug_eiS0PnjSz7Z3fagcQLs6p0DmaJD3jeXwnvh8ixG1Rykw868/s1025/chris-collector-2023-ohtani.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="731" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNa7sIMUE42TBkOcd4koAUO3PMeZvZyniW2gcvZqNdMmHFQDIHG_CictCc5oGMGgGWi77VVdI8gqXbyK3QzUS4jBItZn6HXxQeg7PnVIN1CIfGXY3GjysDZ5s-YeVm65X9M1Go2yddug_eiS0PnjSz7Z3fagcQLs6p0DmaJD3jeXwnvh8ixG1Rykw868/w143-h200/chris-collector-2023-ohtani.jpg" width="143" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">If you send me a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ohtani</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... I have to show it off. I'm pretty sure it's an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">unwritten rule</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> or something.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">#8</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1982 Topps #668</span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixoaK2BrkD3RBCXp3WjGfhi9Ddx6q0p_un5Z8mJ5VBKT8xVu9H7ojRh96-0yMLy8z26EY_lyw6_2YQZUaaD5k58sJZdJrwk_EBAbIl0yijVogg78HcL9SN5TAlJvrJ3M-sxS74rV9BdUN8YwbLNeJpGyxPIIOSOkEhaob6a0jtzPkfeovuqeiGlRhVAes/s1050/chris-collector-2023-murphy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="759" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixoaK2BrkD3RBCXp3WjGfhi9Ddx6q0p_un5Z8mJ5VBKT8xVu9H7ojRh96-0yMLy8z26EY_lyw6_2YQZUaaD5k58sJZdJrwk_EBAbIl0yijVogg78HcL9SN5TAlJvrJ3M-sxS74rV9BdUN8YwbLNeJpGyxPIIOSOkEhaob6a0jtzPkfeovuqeiGlRhVAes/w144-h200/chris-collector-2023-murphy.jpg" width="144" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I was never a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">big </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dale Murphy</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> fan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but seeing this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (like the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Tekulve</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">) took me back to my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">childhood</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WcaCx5VWZD95x9PeEpgoUp84KQFKLievaptnJdExRsp8uBrP7OlhqDse7N2Qf-avzpwpuOfdJbv91mj3LYn-B_Iy614Qp4CWmKUKLi-2ThgIBU2pQiD9wkYXmnl2WiD9nN9BLoGza6CnZ0pHuH2pSICjWlcHUcQo-2shDPpNTqvjJRIU4zNfRKeG7Js/s996/chris-collector-2023-murphy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="996" height="74" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9WcaCx5VWZD95x9PeEpgoUp84KQFKLievaptnJdExRsp8uBrP7OlhqDse7N2Qf-avzpwpuOfdJbv91mj3LYn-B_Iy614Qp4CWmKUKLi-2ThgIBU2pQiD9wkYXmnl2WiD9nN9BLoGza6CnZ0pHuH2pSICjWlcHUcQo-2shDPpNTqvjJRIU4zNfRKeG7Js/s320/chris-collector-2023-murphy2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Plus it's a nice </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">reminder</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1982 Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card backs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were green and featured </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cool facts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cartoons</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">#9</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2018 Topps Big League Autographs #BLA-MO</span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgTgd5cjwrRZsvZR8haGqDyKGs4VZZR1gtDULdN1Xvf0XV3HJoaInR38JEwcFWMdOdY99ciOus_Dva9lHHlQ9t9fwLLzLP8Y4PyrRZPdNDy113CBl2g2ijXBjFkHUKSIayQgW5c4Ua7hAm-GuRR7t6ktYBu-DDpXcu7Nuyjxytfs2KEOxLVgrsqj_7Nk/s1025/chris-collector-2023-olson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="735" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgTgd5cjwrRZsvZR8haGqDyKGs4VZZR1gtDULdN1Xvf0XV3HJoaInR38JEwcFWMdOdY99ciOus_Dva9lHHlQ9t9fwLLzLP8Y4PyrRZPdNDy113CBl2g2ijXBjFkHUKSIayQgW5c4Ua7hAm-GuRR7t6ktYBu-DDpXcu7Nuyjxytfs2KEOxLVgrsqj_7Nk/w143-h200/chris-collector-2023-olson.jpg" width="143" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Olson</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">stud</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. As sad as I was to hear that the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Oakland A's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">traded him away</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... I'm </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">super happy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> he's continued to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">grow</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and find </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">success</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Atlanta</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">#10</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1989-90 Fleer #78</span></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLbkc-_E8A2mJVP-yFO7xOmA4mSBQe1NLbDuusyEWbjETRWjz4c1dl2dhzfbGgiUNwMnM1RqdgD1V_b6MUrxPlfQZVx4XyRHtZc1rVtu966-v8PAKhpwaPKe5PLp_s1jxLcKmqkccFyqrOU2eUa4WPejenEawH_aN_m3050_hJ-XgT5YG0d9L1KvKXik/s1025/chris-collector-2023-scott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="722" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLbkc-_E8A2mJVP-yFO7xOmA4mSBQe1NLbDuusyEWbjETRWjz4c1dl2dhzfbGgiUNwMnM1RqdgD1V_b6MUrxPlfQZVx4XyRHtZc1rVtu966-v8PAKhpwaPKe5PLp_s1jxLcKmqkccFyqrOU2eUa4WPejenEawH_aN_m3050_hJ-XgT5YG0d9L1KvKXik/w141-h200/chris-collector-2023-scott.jpg" width="141" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">There was a time when I would have rather owned an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">autograph</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">guy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> than almost </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">any other athlete </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">in </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sports</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Back in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">80's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... I was a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">huge fan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Showtime Lakers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mr. Scott</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">favorite player</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on the court. I spent a lot of hours in </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">middle school</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">high school</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, practicing my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseline jumper</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in an effort to emulate him.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Okay. It's taken me </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">over an hour</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> just to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">scan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">write</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I'm guessing it'll take another </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">thirty minutes </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">edit</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">format</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">publish</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i><span style="color: #999999;">Now do you understand why my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">focus</span><span style="color: #999999;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">2024</span><span style="color: #999999;"> is to keep things "</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">straight to the point</span><span style="color: #999999;">"?</span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Thank you</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Chris</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pair</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">PWE's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Sorry it took so long to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">open them up</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">write about them</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Saturday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div></div></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-26271559418948416242023-12-12T15:00:00.000-08:002023-12-12T15:00:00.140-08:00A Unique Vendor & some Buyer's Remorse<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2q95D5m6khfhAZtJiXzcDLerM3Iko5Hqt-zLW30fBQIAeRijimEC_hIFotcYQbvdb-9Pu5Ce-6y01mFLMKcbtCmv-SE-hCKLPpINNa9NE9GEVfpv6RX15EG-UIsvX2_M2AUYhrgFOcjLYj0WcC-De-3E48GfOOWq424w3_BexI_tjqOKzB8ItAhcaKY/s975/oh-75-calbee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="975" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2q95D5m6khfhAZtJiXzcDLerM3Iko5Hqt-zLW30fBQIAeRijimEC_hIFotcYQbvdb-9Pu5Ce-6y01mFLMKcbtCmv-SE-hCKLPpINNa9NE9GEVfpv6RX15EG-UIsvX2_M2AUYhrgFOcjLYj0WcC-De-3E48GfOOWq424w3_BexI_tjqOKzB8ItAhcaKY/w400-h302/oh-75-calbee.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">Before last month... I couldn't tell you the last time I walked around a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">card show</span><span style="color: #999999;">. According to the </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2022/09/eventful-day-card-show.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">blog</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">, it was back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">September</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">2022</span><span style="color: #999999;">. I might have attended one earlier in the year... but if I did... it obviously wasn't memorable.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">However after finding out about </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mike</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... I wanted to hang out with some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">mutual friends</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> who were setting up at the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">monthly show</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> located about twenty minutes from my place.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">show</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> itself is </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pretty small</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but I ended up spending a few hours there. Part of the time was sitting around and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">exchanging stories</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> about our </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">friend</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The rest of the time was exploring the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">show</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and catching up with the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hobby</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> since I hadn't been spending a lot of time with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the last </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">six months</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> or so.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I was surprised at the amount of stuff I came home with. Here's a breakdown of my purchases...</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Card Show Purchase #1</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">: </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Fleer Stickers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">$20</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsIKDMeIXXFMOutE0KXWT5w5gLpNYmG7DrJ3Aa9sOFXra9IgD_XN62TEPhM4GXXD7WhJHqLIA2vMZWHfYTTi0lTPi_T_aIiEllSiONNf2Ds2bncowkKm5WcPXQansqHHJACsruDCsl8KtOkGZ4njlfyiUcAIEm4dRHlMJizeWcphKuha9c9dHKZSoPhs/s1791/show-2023-westgate-fleer-stickers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1791" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsIKDMeIXXFMOutE0KXWT5w5gLpNYmG7DrJ3Aa9sOFXra9IgD_XN62TEPhM4GXXD7WhJHqLIA2vMZWHfYTTi0lTPi_T_aIiEllSiONNf2Ds2bncowkKm5WcPXQansqHHJACsruDCsl8KtOkGZ4njlfyiUcAIEm4dRHlMJizeWcphKuha9c9dHKZSoPhs/s320/show-2023-westgate-fleer-stickers.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">One vendor had a bunch of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">80's Fleer Stickers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sitting in his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">quarter bins</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. He had a little over </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">200</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, so I offered him </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$20</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and he accepted.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Seeing these took me back to my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">childhood</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> when I'd casually toss these aside while opening </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Fleer</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. These days... I pay much closer attention to them. Stay tuned for a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Fleer Sticker</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the near future.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Card Show Purchase #2</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">: </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Dollar Bin</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"> (</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Japanese Cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">) </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">$5</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_UY6sLBxvujkyzcP32lYhzHX0ljnTNd6BzSV77mWTCwvQbzma0-ANn5usHBp4csYvLLAkTx1fdM6aizYLrLt2Y4uunAJ1T0nhVeN6HHe4T4zQ3w6ESGsDU2zJROMDYUy6cy1UncNOJZYBnp4H7_xQrvaz_2UFaixhRzG9wdV5oLfqzo5_YeusPawOtI/s4032/show-2023-westgate.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4_UY6sLBxvujkyzcP32lYhzHX0ljnTNd6BzSV77mWTCwvQbzma0-ANn5usHBp4csYvLLAkTx1fdM6aizYLrLt2Y4uunAJ1T0nhVeN6HHe4T4zQ3w6ESGsDU2zJROMDYUy6cy1UncNOJZYBnp4H7_xQrvaz_2UFaixhRzG9wdV5oLfqzo5_YeusPawOtI/s320/show-2023-westgate.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">There were plenty of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">dealers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">slabbed rookie cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">unopened blasters</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">colorful </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Pokemon</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. That was expected. What I didn't expect was a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">dealer</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> who </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">specializes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Japan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I spent almost an hour hanging out, listening to his story, and checking out what he brought. I started with his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">dollar bin</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">shoebox</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> at the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">left</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the above photo)... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjytMGG99LBhdPsJRI0jUTfCwbSjvdAUvNZi6M30eBzRoBjKANE9J_7N5HMIMvZKGKeptb8gTa6D7nIwlGZNR4w1u8xuVcQj2PYU37dMTT_jkr8b3DMZVfIEArImqu7jRREjU54BZo71SEUGkQAllnbwE9Pufbvr1FAlH-U9_tozN0Q1XZQGEWri7GLVE/s1025/yoshida-calbee-2017.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="709" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjytMGG99LBhdPsJRI0jUTfCwbSjvdAUvNZi6M30eBzRoBjKANE9J_7N5HMIMvZKGKeptb8gTa6D7nIwlGZNR4w1u8xuVcQj2PYU37dMTT_jkr8b3DMZVfIEArImqu7jRREjU54BZo71SEUGkQAllnbwE9Pufbvr1FAlH-U9_tozN0Q1XZQGEWri7GLVE/w117-h168/yoshida-calbee-2017.jpg" width="117" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW_wJUIxO38tmuDASBN6cx_h1vq72pCpLLpv1R9x4ggp9ocFFDKbqYGBaAq1BQP3FyfFM50QjlFT2EiZDzrpI96qfUERuGCkIhKLJroVdOY6xoKz5NKSRt6soEaknv6O0ZQLPv9o4RRj5Uhxim289QIwKSpUiSQkL6HJ-eb0KHN2hQxYzCT0I_xwuJO0/s1025/yoshida-calbee-2018.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="709" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqW_wJUIxO38tmuDASBN6cx_h1vq72pCpLLpv1R9x4ggp9ocFFDKbqYGBaAq1BQP3FyfFM50QjlFT2EiZDzrpI96qfUERuGCkIhKLJroVdOY6xoKz5NKSRt6soEaknv6O0ZQLPv9o4RRj5Uhxim289QIwKSpUiSQkL6HJ-eb0KHN2hQxYzCT0I_xwuJO0/w115-h167/yoshida-calbee-2018.jpg" width="115" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0v-0p3BzGCCWuJ6ZzwuRn2avOv149VGRodvpA63p22zSNVJg3d_fyJTHSVNlZL1_OzBeG-2gaHk9KfI8fO_1iZIVOH54Gh6LyxVXoDQzIoOZebVpScl-LBStenmILtobox1YcYOais6iT3sIBS-8uvnFUsCtwix2XvI4PC9dMxDxnL4m9MfPBSfE6Bs/s1025/yoshida-calbee-2019.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="710" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP0v-0p3BzGCCWuJ6ZzwuRn2avOv149VGRodvpA63p22zSNVJg3d_fyJTHSVNlZL1_OzBeG-2gaHk9KfI8fO_1iZIVOH54Gh6LyxVXoDQzIoOZebVpScl-LBStenmILtobox1YcYOais6iT3sIBS-8uvnFUsCtwix2XvI4PC9dMxDxnL4m9MfPBSfE6Bs/w115-h165/yoshida-calbee-2019.jpg" width="115" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhyphenhyphenaAgDkE4w5nT9E-2j7UgUyDSNmRXG15gs9yuQK0Pt-2KfrCRsRhMTwEfp7Gxt5bh_10LyO8-9U85N0iGGsxxQ7FiPyh-TpSogDfPSKSIspGz3NEHqfRthZJLNmhJ82iMveOvxdFhsvKbCmk7P139PLE5Fqe9X2lFBd7sTs8fthVj0nvaubVSwooY8g/s1025/yoshida-calbee-2019b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="709" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhyphenhyphenaAgDkE4w5nT9E-2j7UgUyDSNmRXG15gs9yuQK0Pt-2KfrCRsRhMTwEfp7Gxt5bh_10LyO8-9U85N0iGGsxxQ7FiPyh-TpSogDfPSKSIspGz3NEHqfRthZJLNmhJ82iMveOvxdFhsvKbCmk7P139PLE5Fqe9X2lFBd7sTs8fthVj0nvaubVSwooY8g/w114-h167/yoshida-calbee-2019b.jpg" width="114" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2017 Calbee #035</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2018 Calbee #167</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2019 Calbee #095</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2019 Calbee Star Card #S-08</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">He had hundreds of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">stars</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> like </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Hideo Nomo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Hideki Matsui</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Daisuke Matsuzaka</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sitting in his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">dollar bin</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I was tempted to start pulling them out, but ultimately... I ended up buying </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">four</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Masataka Yoshida</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from his days with the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Orix Buffaloes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I also grabbed these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Godzilla</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_6GCQonnlV_jQ1UzVuED9zS8HLTPLBwA5MWHMOhN5Cbuolbikz_2CK9H8nvOd6RYIgMaFKBSDaHWP5hF0jzzgD_HWkAMnOR_jOqPw85OQzhRB_xo1QE_O57iP2KmFHljPQgp5lcepTUVnUbZl-o9pG0T5b4_qf9qwgXQ6WESmn1bbf3H0hGm_YVKBKI/s800/show-godzilla1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="800" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_6GCQonnlV_jQ1UzVuED9zS8HLTPLBwA5MWHMOhN5Cbuolbikz_2CK9H8nvOd6RYIgMaFKBSDaHWP5hF0jzzgD_HWkAMnOR_jOqPw85OQzhRB_xo1QE_O57iP2KmFHljPQgp5lcepTUVnUbZl-o9pG0T5b4_qf9qwgXQ6WESmn1bbf3H0hGm_YVKBKI/w200-h149/show-godzilla1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0r3HuJlxU5Uadh5izOOWY-6HNcRDCoJjsbAgZlNKU_EkV5I_65Sv7f9ztJWQB5G8ecbK8WRdqM3WMDTt6G7t7EJYsRWVspENgkaCUHcAAGK4_GRR9P1ZvQny7WRjyYQs9gfwzgJdqBEBZ6wq9MrAEnwBStOOAQQ7x_CXwGsCath1iMvN2gtWeW9SomU/s800/show-godzilla1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="588" data-original-width="800" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0r3HuJlxU5Uadh5izOOWY-6HNcRDCoJjsbAgZlNKU_EkV5I_65Sv7f9ztJWQB5G8ecbK8WRdqM3WMDTt6G7t7EJYsRWVspENgkaCUHcAAGK4_GRR9P1ZvQny7WRjyYQs9gfwzgJdqBEBZ6wq9MrAEnwBStOOAQQ7x_CXwGsCath1iMvN2gtWeW9SomU/w200-h147/show-godzilla1a.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Japanese Godzilla Card #35</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqnIGRVs0TxryK1OqJqnoYDfh9uC4Yq59sWKsvY9iGMSn5iedDp-IPAmelaJ1jcJZt586gyDPS1UGyp3yztsEmBpX46AwplKGIrraNhI_CfPVwU8JxiGs6fqv6Iy5e7EbNBpabgiPv2xCZiQBqFSxVuxm20y4JmHyRPzpCT4z1JUZNI-BSoWCudv4A74/s800/show-godzilla2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="592" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDqnIGRVs0TxryK1OqJqnoYDfh9uC4Yq59sWKsvY9iGMSn5iedDp-IPAmelaJ1jcJZt586gyDPS1UGyp3yztsEmBpX46AwplKGIrraNhI_CfPVwU8JxiGs6fqv6Iy5e7EbNBpabgiPv2xCZiQBqFSxVuxm20y4JmHyRPzpCT4z1JUZNI-BSoWCudv4A74/w148-h200/show-godzilla2.jpg" width="148" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RwAQR3KJxoboPkS1_vK2nwgNyl3dwugXdJujGQCNNBwk5Y3fkeHMRiqBmbOa9FE6QHE_6ywQ6NXm6n9iyjyaZncq3JnYpYu7CLTZ3pw6jZkxVTNvBYrCv7yua5bvMlFeb-HDv7A8Rq_hlc4e5HEpbKRTwWKo5eLV5hCysDdqWSNPl0ijYdJZ8PMifYM/s800/show-godzilla2a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="592" data-original-width="800" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6RwAQR3KJxoboPkS1_vK2nwgNyl3dwugXdJujGQCNNBwk5Y3fkeHMRiqBmbOa9FE6QHE_6ywQ6NXm6n9iyjyaZncq3JnYpYu7CLTZ3pw6jZkxVTNvBYrCv7yua5bvMlFeb-HDv7A8Rq_hlc4e5HEpbKRTwWKo5eLV5hCysDdqWSNPl0ijYdJZ8PMifYM/w200-h148/show-godzilla2a.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Japanese Godzilla Card #43</i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">vendor</span><span style="color: #999999;"> didn't have any information on either of these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999;">, but thought they might be from the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">80's</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">After the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">dollar bin</span><span style="color: #999999;">, I started digging through his </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">$5</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">bin</span><span style="color: #999999;"> which contained a ton of </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">90's</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">early </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">2000's Ichiro</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> cards</span><span style="color: #999999;">...</span></div></span></div></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Card Show Purchase #3</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">: </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Japanese Ichiro Suzuki Cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">$65</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'll just shut up and let the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> speak for themselves...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_hSdeSagJTjdNfXRRAhKH-EuNW9V9WtEwYRo4p_96u4CeZ2K29sa94cj38i3hKIeClxfKV0UQrZSJNLtnx1gKnkyZNkPCfvN-rs6TP5O1KrP7IVq2rl7hPviiZF9JVEoa0vlE5Fg953odnX5LMNa_-G3EJPKgU5Ag7rZ7yV-TWG_AAmEFIqtCbbO_y0/s1025/suzuki-97-calbee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="654" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_hSdeSagJTjdNfXRRAhKH-EuNW9V9WtEwYRo4p_96u4CeZ2K29sa94cj38i3hKIeClxfKV0UQrZSJNLtnx1gKnkyZNkPCfvN-rs6TP5O1KrP7IVq2rl7hPviiZF9JVEoa0vlE5Fg953odnX5LMNa_-G3EJPKgU5Ag7rZ7yV-TWG_AAmEFIqtCbbO_y0/s320/suzuki-97-calbee.jpg" width="204" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1997 Calbee #013</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJAsmqBfdMUJsMmyVtoVsWS1Kkk67xfVHI1m_T-mFh-NYX3hf4QrJuwvHdG7tzZFcJQL8IyJy6FVZpyooW_k97G-tV3Av3-1goD2nmSrVbcOg-mBbitRCg4H6N2SknfSbYpXGKiLToJt8Jt5Ydof701ECUJqBgrUBRAofjLOHs34ixA1Bkcg15UYu8hs/s1025/suzuki-97-calbee2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="652" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJAsmqBfdMUJsMmyVtoVsWS1Kkk67xfVHI1m_T-mFh-NYX3hf4QrJuwvHdG7tzZFcJQL8IyJy6FVZpyooW_k97G-tV3Av3-1goD2nmSrVbcOg-mBbitRCg4H6N2SknfSbYpXGKiLToJt8Jt5Ydof701ECUJqBgrUBRAofjLOHs34ixA1Bkcg15UYu8hs/s320/suzuki-97-calbee2.jpg" width="204" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1997 Calbee #165</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFaCpCuUOhwuG2HO0G2bYlMVYqhhUP92bwUPQd_z7Ns7nx4wp2Sj3iccVZzNCsBT117xrQqkPpd4v8lomBZsVOjVtnl_lMZsqmtjp4R9aMbA-w3hfb9uhKjXnk3oxXSAOCku_CwPoICGBinj5r0LzD4SLN2N-_qSEL-lISH8YIXoa7uZ9_VkJtz2sqyQ/s1025/suzuki-98-calbee2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="712" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUFaCpCuUOhwuG2HO0G2bYlMVYqhhUP92bwUPQd_z7Ns7nx4wp2Sj3iccVZzNCsBT117xrQqkPpd4v8lomBZsVOjVtnl_lMZsqmtjp4R9aMbA-w3hfb9uhKjXnk3oxXSAOCku_CwPoICGBinj5r0LzD4SLN2N-_qSEL-lISH8YIXoa7uZ9_VkJtz2sqyQ/s320/suzuki-98-calbee2.jpg" width="222" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1998 Calbee #022</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vAgqmvQpIlVgnH3dgwm6w1RPi0G0rd0IN9FuSDFHwqNTJABonza8MGlneEKVKP5Iquaq_A2_D4-N2MZXrMmPTR-xRrchicVUpqj2khB8n_gqukhH1AH1jAeEARjNkLzYQHcOVKaIh2hfgnj-Pk5wS4L-eN4FlnzPgvlfATOJ8NHlaupedRKPhN9pIL4/s1025/suzuki-98-calbee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="713" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vAgqmvQpIlVgnH3dgwm6w1RPi0G0rd0IN9FuSDFHwqNTJABonza8MGlneEKVKP5Iquaq_A2_D4-N2MZXrMmPTR-xRrchicVUpqj2khB8n_gqukhH1AH1jAeEARjNkLzYQHcOVKaIh2hfgnj-Pk5wS4L-eN4FlnzPgvlfATOJ8NHlaupedRKPhN9pIL4/s320/suzuki-98-calbee.jpg" width="223" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1998 Calbee #097</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dHlYC3C1yoZgU6aptPcYyVdAs_VsjjKVaxCB4zILo34Pfsy9VKgyAQKkW1MlSkhYzPhmgeqBJonHUNfpWjNy1D-eiOxw9jqYwn1-BcxdhbOUiTHQpH-eBkdOssYqhkzhhrArzvLCFrargeKe95MTe_0TtvU7nfBboVWYWDmsZwD9deBJW1DSRS0FDgE/s1025/suzuki-98-calbee3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="712" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dHlYC3C1yoZgU6aptPcYyVdAs_VsjjKVaxCB4zILo34Pfsy9VKgyAQKkW1MlSkhYzPhmgeqBJonHUNfpWjNy1D-eiOxw9jqYwn1-BcxdhbOUiTHQpH-eBkdOssYqhkzhhrArzvLCFrargeKe95MTe_0TtvU7nfBboVWYWDmsZwD9deBJW1DSRS0FDgE/s320/suzuki-98-calbee3.jpg" width="222" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1998 Calbee West Special #W-13</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie93rBSAwD4Fn33p8FrV8bdjlaHzgqjn0CH_CxzzumS3YQYale2TY4_IcFuhxmKN1F3ZnWp2KIGE8tdMq3k6QRi9zTt4IVHDuvvalnzqhlxJAA_5NFhmY6FhNeybhfmi5VscFuw02h31hX1XFNRLYllFhm55CbSRelS4lujV21fcP_E8AH-OJpGDPf73U/s1025/suzuki-99-calbee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="708" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie93rBSAwD4Fn33p8FrV8bdjlaHzgqjn0CH_CxzzumS3YQYale2TY4_IcFuhxmKN1F3ZnWp2KIGE8tdMq3k6QRi9zTt4IVHDuvvalnzqhlxJAA_5NFhmY6FhNeybhfmi5VscFuw02h31hX1XFNRLYllFhm55CbSRelS4lujV21fcP_E8AH-OJpGDPf73U/s320/suzuki-99-calbee.jpg" width="221" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1999 Calbee #198</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9NUGEYFsXfwFI28PfkoSPLoNO9Jfc2kPJgt3fNWvngQgDOxvzGzx10lE1rv7ncGX1aV3-HbUzp1l7nUdzmnoXZUMeLI5838u35BkMfC-UlYAhjRCCbcARzbhpjxJdRV4vgJobSPGDpc38YCw6woTwHC3Ol2UeMsg6sLdZ6QS_kMLROWJBjTj8JCjjJc/s1025/suzuki-00-calbee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="711" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9NUGEYFsXfwFI28PfkoSPLoNO9Jfc2kPJgt3fNWvngQgDOxvzGzx10lE1rv7ncGX1aV3-HbUzp1l7nUdzmnoXZUMeLI5838u35BkMfC-UlYAhjRCCbcARzbhpjxJdRV4vgJobSPGDpc38YCw6woTwHC3Ol2UeMsg6sLdZ6QS_kMLROWJBjTj8JCjjJc/s320/suzuki-00-calbee.jpg" width="222" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2000 Calbee #015</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZiHxlSw8kzejKIA20a8Bs-T78QoF5lwRsQtcOX1U19Jq4PNNJcqeWFQ7J-g03GX15_gd8FnrBAPojWCh4u6d2DvCEijlVWmaf2xns-2R9u0aKFWsE8QOElKFJHoz4v1sXnRaeMuBek_lNZuhyphenhyphenLI049wpHkbks9gGDtPGMxF7nhxERwdDb8JouwEYqWE/s1025/suzuki-00-calbee2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="707" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZiHxlSw8kzejKIA20a8Bs-T78QoF5lwRsQtcOX1U19Jq4PNNJcqeWFQ7J-g03GX15_gd8FnrBAPojWCh4u6d2DvCEijlVWmaf2xns-2R9u0aKFWsE8QOElKFJHoz4v1sXnRaeMuBek_lNZuhyphenhyphenLI049wpHkbks9gGDtPGMxF7nhxERwdDb8JouwEYqWE/s320/suzuki-00-calbee2.jpg" width="221" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2000 Calbee Star Cards #04</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYlW9oqR7hNX_VqtYBeWTTXHahPLbdR7CDoRrUyyKWH0vhoX5ZqD531EiwIkzaYIXdUwevwXcVwaHNN-3UIlmW1e9GTKTIduQQYvyEPO8oi0oDFs42lNE7sJHF7oHxR-JX8EcOC4lF5AWEiGFDwdi5x_G3EmRjfWnZqR_NSyo4g5NiOY-w7EZMODxdbE/s1025/suzuki-00-victory2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="715" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYlW9oqR7hNX_VqtYBeWTTXHahPLbdR7CDoRrUyyKWH0vhoX5ZqD531EiwIkzaYIXdUwevwXcVwaHNN-3UIlmW1e9GTKTIduQQYvyEPO8oi0oDFs42lNE7sJHF7oHxR-JX8EcOC4lF5AWEiGFDwdi5x_G3EmRjfWnZqR_NSyo4g5NiOY-w7EZMODxdbE/w139-h200/suzuki-00-victory2.jpg" width="139" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDlIj4SL15UlGJWP5NpfRmrGv7N_S_kkI2HpTSaiFYu0GuB6bG4n6INwiVZ-SRc4N4eyCG0fsb35Q9rdCdkcPMBtfk_nZ4Ze1R5OTXKU_OXIMoS_K1WKhxyO8ZmIIR6FrykwkHZ1mVVFY5DnGMQZvI8L2FzxleMiMM69myarcAqiwnIzdGbqExgzpZLU/s1025/suzuki-00-victory2a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="718" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDlIj4SL15UlGJWP5NpfRmrGv7N_S_kkI2HpTSaiFYu0GuB6bG4n6INwiVZ-SRc4N4eyCG0fsb35Q9rdCdkcPMBtfk_nZ4Ze1R5OTXKU_OXIMoS_K1WKhxyO8ZmIIR6FrykwkHZ1mVVFY5DnGMQZvI8L2FzxleMiMM69myarcAqiwnIzdGbqExgzpZLU/w140-h200/suzuki-00-victory2a.jpg" width="140" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2000 Upper Deck Victory Japan #11</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5aRGg7bZAKN-ep1lquAfQfOA8-ZM2wZszlSS7U2U1eFaCpaCGziWt-tleRfq0Jba4782f84j1Tuwg6HEXKy57wNJbUbvr2_7JJcMT9mdtWbGHa3tU-IK3pcOgFO9egV2vkpwGy0tReGi7spFXQxoftsulANdGEoQE6AQJ9JVoDUcNo-YJ5iPw7r3TcY/s1025/suzuki-00-victory1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="1025" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5aRGg7bZAKN-ep1lquAfQfOA8-ZM2wZszlSS7U2U1eFaCpaCGziWt-tleRfq0Jba4782f84j1Tuwg6HEXKy57wNJbUbvr2_7JJcMT9mdtWbGHa3tU-IK3pcOgFO9egV2vkpwGy0tReGi7spFXQxoftsulANdGEoQE6AQJ9JVoDUcNo-YJ5iPw7r3TcY/w200-h138/suzuki-00-victory1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWVIo3WGGD16HKEep5itoKWvj30a1P04wWt8r94ksel4UrFOw6QKWC_8ID2bjyjsjK1BcAYXdDPxMjH2LqZl6LYgwYuklfCJEiLO_j_YdJ4kDdDfJhLdjJChTdkbdTF9UZNMd_2tDZcWusLzHfCPloYvL85BGweLIVG6POlp6aSlEoucbVrD-59aOsDk/s1025/suzuki-00-victory1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1025" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWVIo3WGGD16HKEep5itoKWvj30a1P04wWt8r94ksel4UrFOw6QKWC_8ID2bjyjsjK1BcAYXdDPxMjH2LqZl6LYgwYuklfCJEiLO_j_YdJ4kDdDfJhLdjJChTdkbdTF9UZNMd_2tDZcWusLzHfCPloYvL85BGweLIVG6POlp6aSlEoucbVrD-59aOsDk/w200-h138/suzuki-00-victory1a.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2000 Upper Deck Victory Japan Hardball Heroes #H1</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKgKnqEKVBSJ6oZKc5rQ4-9J9KS_5tzZlBV6qGPGKogke9-jexLbkVmTnaUldZpa13QLHxW4M-8tWu4F7cdS3y24SUneN8De-mb82wnuIRJHE1Bi4I4j6dMxiJEY-Kp9EGEF0VFfvL9z5acRhVH8L23LWa4Xc-bZcUR5EAq3UG3IKafZwHvNYX8ei6eM/s1075/suzuki-01-bbm-best9.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="771" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKgKnqEKVBSJ6oZKc5rQ4-9J9KS_5tzZlBV6qGPGKogke9-jexLbkVmTnaUldZpa13QLHxW4M-8tWu4F7cdS3y24SUneN8De-mb82wnuIRJHE1Bi4I4j6dMxiJEY-Kp9EGEF0VFfvL9z5acRhVH8L23LWa4Xc-bZcUR5EAq3UG3IKafZwHvNYX8ei6eM/w144-h200/suzuki-01-bbm-best9.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHjDvdR7o2zMWMjvjDnntMuTf5NtqziBl6XbAB8mp4yB1GEJXaX0Lfm3kmiAHj6zBIO6eaBQ-fFrVN8N-yie3JGn1f4Hjin60TEdjhO7PPilJrJoF7yT_xxyqwNYL5uZtjQA6Tuhdelkx6gzqgJ5-ezBVhKcgo2-5smIZ-keW1ngrmWj-D7ZZQpaF6ME/s1075/suzuki-01-bbm-best9a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="769" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsHjDvdR7o2zMWMjvjDnntMuTf5NtqziBl6XbAB8mp4yB1GEJXaX0Lfm3kmiAHj6zBIO6eaBQ-fFrVN8N-yie3JGn1f4Hjin60TEdjhO7PPilJrJoF7yT_xxyqwNYL5uZtjQA6Tuhdelkx6gzqgJ5-ezBVhKcgo2-5smIZ-keW1ngrmWj-D7ZZQpaF6ME/w143-h200/suzuki-01-bbm-best9a.jpg" width="143" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2001 BBM Best 9 #B33</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">If the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">math</span><span style="color: #999999;"> doesn't add up... that's because I grabbed </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">duplicates</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Upper Deck Victory</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999;">. Plus there was a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">single</span><span style="color: #999999;"> I grabbed for </span><a href="https://sumocards.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">SumoMenkoMan</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">After his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">boxes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I started looking through his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">display cases</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Check out this insane </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rookie patch card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ohtani</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnogDttbuO3avIlF9ZfwfvZFpT2lutti4JCs1elopay2dsZJZdA1bNkddiPu0DFiLcscGLisMLLtjJ50fyUbOlsmgiQbgstT1sxSLoeMYB8r8hd4IEScdWLhUwd5Pfv72pIWnJcCKB3HJtsn1WYIrgQN4UFBgTQGOgSFe3hapoRiNGbz3KrTxJcoewdo/s4032/show-westgate-ohtani.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnogDttbuO3avIlF9ZfwfvZFpT2lutti4JCs1elopay2dsZJZdA1bNkddiPu0DFiLcscGLisMLLtjJ50fyUbOlsmgiQbgstT1sxSLoeMYB8r8hd4IEScdWLhUwd5Pfv72pIWnJcCKB3HJtsn1WYIrgQN4UFBgTQGOgSFe3hapoRiNGbz3KrTxJcoewdo/s320/show-westgate-ohtani.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I obviously can't afford to drop </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$7,000</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but I did buy a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">vintage card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Home Run King</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Card Show Purchase #4</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">: </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Vintage Sadaharu Oh</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">$10</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2q95D5m6khfhAZtJiXzcDLerM3Iko5Hqt-zLW30fBQIAeRijimEC_hIFotcYQbvdb-9Pu5Ce-6y01mFLMKcbtCmv-SE-hCKLPpINNa9NE9GEVfpv6RX15EG-UIsvX2_M2AUYhrgFOcjLYj0WcC-De-3E48GfOOWq424w3_BexI_tjqOKzB8ItAhcaKY/s975/oh-75-calbee.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="733" data-original-width="975" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG2q95D5m6khfhAZtJiXzcDLerM3Iko5Hqt-zLW30fBQIAeRijimEC_hIFotcYQbvdb-9Pu5Ce-6y01mFLMKcbtCmv-SE-hCKLPpINNa9NE9GEVfpv6RX15EG-UIsvX2_M2AUYhrgFOcjLYj0WcC-De-3E48GfOOWq424w3_BexI_tjqOKzB8ItAhcaKY/w320-h242/oh-75-calbee.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1975-76 Calbee #1235</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The gentleman had a stack of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">vintage </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Oh's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but this is the one that caught my eye. I love how it captures his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;">iconic <i>f</i></span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><i>lamingo</i> stance</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">No idea what it says on the back, but I figured some of you might want to see it:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6X6fRNp-Y3H5Lg_yx6-vMMC55JOvDq3MQlz_qDJkvfn_13NvKoGTdP8slnBokUHfX021NIkvONCPfAU0Ws8YGenN0Gvp4L3YtL_JUHSXqEoVXFNtgQB8ooBBPqKbN1QwpFyoSGoPRPRDijXekILzMYcEru7UIYnnGxfnuMoIv6KA393sA0_3XyaZ1IY4/s975/oh-75-calbee2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="740" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6X6fRNp-Y3H5Lg_yx6-vMMC55JOvDq3MQlz_qDJkvfn_13NvKoGTdP8slnBokUHfX021NIkvONCPfAU0Ws8YGenN0Gvp4L3YtL_JUHSXqEoVXFNtgQB8ooBBPqKbN1QwpFyoSGoPRPRDijXekILzMYcEru7UIYnnGxfnuMoIv6KA393sA0_3XyaZ1IY4/w243-h320/oh-75-calbee2.jpg" width="243" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">other card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I grabbed from his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">display cases</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Calbee</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rookie card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of a guy who may or may not ever cross the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Pacific</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to play in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">MLB</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">...</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Card Show Purchase #5</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">: </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Roki Sasaki Calbee RC</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">$20</span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX37fvic0NP0UwoM7x9YXbXKoYRbmGF9nqzBmBprfRMdIEF3PbpkWW82_C7HW7H8SoN0PMeM1Dhb8m11_U5jb3tdwuDaER-dGOFRbmpAPQqjQnDhPTZiq8CTa3_4SYq1hjqst92Ov-7WsM0ZnO5WiAyEeBNL29koLo74VYBSnFVmMN3yus5MYBbKB9UYQ/s1025/sasaki1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="707" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX37fvic0NP0UwoM7x9YXbXKoYRbmGF9nqzBmBprfRMdIEF3PbpkWW82_C7HW7H8SoN0PMeM1Dhb8m11_U5jb3tdwuDaER-dGOFRbmpAPQqjQnDhPTZiq8CTa3_4SYq1hjqst92Ov-7WsM0ZnO5WiAyEeBNL29koLo74VYBSnFVmMN3yus5MYBbKB9UYQ/w138-h200/sasaki1.jpg" width="138" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkIV1jU-g8dSxHZoA450kiYsvfa6O-zTKEagkyXmRQDDVFBxc6BCZBp9_sUdVkID-p0WP-NRIknNYSn0bJpnAjxEoS41RozdLldKyw-oXZJuXDSQ_Z8-JLvDcgHU2gAHAsaN6qX-vTz9oy8vYJ9xoCmmcF3hMQSPGXrRMJIV23qbOQI66-kHlfr3XsuI/s1025/sasaki1a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="714" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkIV1jU-g8dSxHZoA450kiYsvfa6O-zTKEagkyXmRQDDVFBxc6BCZBp9_sUdVkID-p0WP-NRIknNYSn0bJpnAjxEoS41RozdLldKyw-oXZJuXDSQ_Z8-JLvDcgHU2gAHAsaN6qX-vTz9oy8vYJ9xoCmmcF3hMQSPGXrRMJIV23qbOQI66-kHlfr3XsuI/w139-h200/sasaki1a.jpg" width="139" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2020 Calbee #094</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This was an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">impulse buy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and the credit goes to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">dealer</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for talking </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Sasaki</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> up. Based on </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">completed </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">eBay</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> listings</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... I totally </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">overpaid</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Anyways... if you're not familiar with him, he's the guy who pitched the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">NPB</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> perfect game</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> since </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1994</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2022</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. A week later, he nearly pitched another </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">perfect game</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. There's a lot of hype surrounding him, but he won't even be eligible to play in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">MLB</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for at least a few more years.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">In hindsight, I probably should have just grabbed </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">four more </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ichiro</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. ๐คฃ</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">final purchase</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">dealer</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">very cool set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">...</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Card Show Purchase #6</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">: </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">2009 BBM King of the World Set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">$25</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQursb1NS68KxXHbW9wU5QIIMAA_IpGvndQBZxHIQOx_H0vTuzati602F2IFNXTBQrgmjKuuVeHyMiYM0fWWKzSzHk2zYQQHsrqxBTV4T9IYhQ5JvPr9YhD73TXNUfzYtvmEzTQf9HHCS_rr2mDjIXcjq8qDiLCA9rX5tcXypLcRMfQolOsow0D2Zbp8/s1750/show-set-oh-box.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1750" data-original-width="1261" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuQursb1NS68KxXHbW9wU5QIIMAA_IpGvndQBZxHIQOx_H0vTuzati602F2IFNXTBQrgmjKuuVeHyMiYM0fWWKzSzHk2zYQQHsrqxBTV4T9IYhQ5JvPr9YhD73TXNUfzYtvmEzTQf9HHCS_rr2mDjIXcjq8qDiLCA9rX5tcXypLcRMfQolOsow0D2Zbp8/w144-h200/show-set-oh-box.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmDa6h9FPBTUeZGUv2cjw5W1sTtMaODCL_yZgv4wUWLJjEh_j0W1gGKTB5VaXABYcVyLGsarr7gmX25JgDDffBIEbVo2avgqJ8rQhEsKjTjXheIz39bYquiFcb-eaIDW4S5WAewSRf6upQOYk27M14q83GZ9LSGRWrnad5gh2WSEylnV5dzFBpNtTzoE/s1750/show-set-oh-box1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1750" data-original-width="1269" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrmDa6h9FPBTUeZGUv2cjw5W1sTtMaODCL_yZgv4wUWLJjEh_j0W1gGKTB5VaXABYcVyLGsarr7gmX25JgDDffBIEbVo2avgqJ8rQhEsKjTjXheIz39bYquiFcb-eaIDW4S5WAewSRf6upQOYk27M14q83GZ9LSGRWrnad5gh2WSEylnV5dzFBpNtTzoE/w145-h200/show-set-oh-box1.jpg" width="145" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciw4eAZTWfoNatXE34xzT0PKoOZoUHw0vSpVeKjow0aXc95RfHipjyXxdXqt9-4e8SgQM72HvtNBYTf7cJUHqgn8EMGpDnPpL8eqHJVF_0ne_gri_ySLDdvFMODO1-oH1jC5ibRwVWP8HVK_DTSUtE_AJK2lBR1d69Y9jBwaNpBp2vCRE6FmwHs-1VpU/s2250/show-set-oh-box2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2250" data-original-width="2201" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhciw4eAZTWfoNatXE34xzT0PKoOZoUHw0vSpVeKjow0aXc95RfHipjyXxdXqt9-4e8SgQM72HvtNBYTf7cJUHqgn8EMGpDnPpL8eqHJVF_0ne_gri_ySLDdvFMODO1-oH1jC5ibRwVWP8HVK_DTSUtE_AJK2lBR1d69Y9jBwaNpBp2vCRE6FmwHs-1VpU/w207-h212/show-set-oh-box2.jpg" width="207" /></span></a></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><div><br /></div>After the guy talked me into the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Sasaki</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, he pointed out this </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Sadaharu Oh </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">tribute set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. It's one of those </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">limited edition box sets </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">that </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">BBM </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">produces.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cover</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> instantly caught my eye... so much that I carefully cut it out and slipped it into a</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"> 6" x 9"</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">top loader</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2HeqLGBLQmPwTvz5Cm15PSfd367DMrmj6njhohpRMaUBmf16FI1HeziL2SHzJGDPOqRXUM9jv0j84TMxhRU6gp3_UNm9gY_WtfnE4vQL_ufbFTWMFzsY4Vkxs6kE9VS7Qexovvyn4gq9Tg84ejTcKgP19Xw3ZMwSmKE_topNQpeFSxicts_gGOoQGiI/s2450/show-set-oh-box-cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2450" data-original-width="1698" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2HeqLGBLQmPwTvz5Cm15PSfd367DMrmj6njhohpRMaUBmf16FI1HeziL2SHzJGDPOqRXUM9jv0j84TMxhRU6gp3_UNm9gY_WtfnE4vQL_ufbFTWMFzsY4Vkxs6kE9VS7Qexovvyn4gq9Tg84ejTcKgP19Xw3ZMwSmKE_topNQpeFSxicts_gGOoQGiI/s320/show-set-oh-box-cover.jpg" width="222" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2009 BBM King of the World Box Cover</i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">back</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cover</span><span style="color: #999999;"> features his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">career statistics</span><span style="color: #999999;">:</span><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquSZdxgXmZ1tJZOSw49RmmJnRUesvXo0YwlUyNJHMO4Ih281_0knmsvXRJhZdaOzxZubh7Q7cT9gPVvBySaP080vpNOAXA4W_hE_ZHPcu6SpIYI2_d_7qgwoBgMdzzf1t8NoaTRJ7JgmHc3D2BAxnr6zpRS1fjQXL57_bgRh_gdkKEk-M7PCg41lK-go/s2450/show-set-oh-box-cover2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2450" data-original-width="1707" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiquSZdxgXmZ1tJZOSw49RmmJnRUesvXo0YwlUyNJHMO4Ih281_0knmsvXRJhZdaOzxZubh7Q7cT9gPVvBySaP080vpNOAXA4W_hE_ZHPcu6SpIYI2_d_7qgwoBgMdzzf1t8NoaTRJ7JgmHc3D2BAxnr6zpRS1fjQXL57_bgRh_gdkKEk-M7PCg41lK-go/s320/show-set-oh-box-cover2.jpg" width="223" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><div style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Maybe one of these days, I'll write up a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set spotlight post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Until then, here's </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">9</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">-pocket page</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> featuring </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Oh's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">time lapsed swing</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7-ThMcrY6mP35bMnmkhRmOmA-Bgfc_1OZxn-XalfKguNIDnIo9BTlmbsNDkfkvsEgcYUhRzDR5DGDZdb9FG70WXZej85V3bVowM9ioql6k3HJGRyB7kPHAmiv_5VbjFhvROCM_ewbL423-pkPMlwmIAxj5tWzXcMDWP56EBzEUdQiD0hZdVnGV-8p8A/s812/show-set-oh-sheet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="587" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7-ThMcrY6mP35bMnmkhRmOmA-Bgfc_1OZxn-XalfKguNIDnIo9BTlmbsNDkfkvsEgcYUhRzDR5DGDZdb9FG70WXZej85V3bVowM9ioql6k3HJGRyB7kPHAmiv_5VbjFhvROCM_ewbL423-pkPMlwmIAxj5tWzXcMDWP56EBzEUdQiD0hZdVnGV-8p8A/w289-h400/show-set-oh-sheet.jpg" width="289" /></span></a></span></div><div style="color: #999999;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Finally there was an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">insert card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> featuring a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">facsimile signature</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">legend</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHq1d5-cw3vqPkAGHhAYDiuDRoBDjQiLwR-qCKyLZ5WAX1qTKINbdJuRngD3E6zKwUlbEW6XciHgWiVldHPM8qDHWzRKSbUj6xU0slTsv39LRmxAg3WW9_k7uBsksUk0brwPmjMfP3jfySWopT2fxMwUNZmkPfI9jXbYt2I5UDxG_oyru8ZCWRmfDkd0/s1025/show-set-oh-box-printed-auto.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="736" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHq1d5-cw3vqPkAGHhAYDiuDRoBDjQiLwR-qCKyLZ5WAX1qTKINbdJuRngD3E6zKwUlbEW6XciHgWiVldHPM8qDHWzRKSbUj6xU0slTsv39LRmxAg3WW9_k7uBsksUk0brwPmjMfP3jfySWopT2fxMwUNZmkPfI9jXbYt2I5UDxG_oyru8ZCWRmfDkd0/w144-h200/show-set-oh-box-printed-auto.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPp1POLOcuZ49llgJ_QhHRd1L3yPp9KpnFaRUeX_lvPOZ3Q0at76WJ1xTiZxP6RpbUFCV_FhJ2kZP-EMk9w6fr1voRXY7dXSdkFFbG1WmpkdUGFsHAJ5K94XbURROy_loNcZTrNGXUx0q_MglDz4QznOvyG_o762XbCstM6cGPlrg4A_EjnXx84G3scLc/s1025/show-set-oh-box-printed-auto2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="734" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPp1POLOcuZ49llgJ_QhHRd1L3yPp9KpnFaRUeX_lvPOZ3Q0at76WJ1xTiZxP6RpbUFCV_FhJ2kZP-EMk9w6fr1voRXY7dXSdkFFbG1WmpkdUGFsHAJ5K94XbURROy_loNcZTrNGXUx0q_MglDz4QznOvyG_o762XbCstM6cGPlrg4A_EjnXx84G3scLc/w143-h200/show-set-oh-box-printed-auto2.jpg" width="143" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2009 BBM King of the World Printed Autograph #PA7</i></b></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div>In hindsight... this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">purchase</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> helps me cope with the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">buyer's remorse</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Sasaki </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'm going back to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card show</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> again this </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Saturday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Crossing my fingers that this guy is there to take more of my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hard earned money</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">As I walked back to my friends, I saw a guy with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three small boxes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> labeled </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">ten for a dollar</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, so I stopped and quickly flipped through them. Here's what I bought...</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Card Show Purchase #7</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">: </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">Dime Box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;">$1</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyC1gpTD4PeCNCRat40npQg07AgVT7bxBYUp51f54Mcn9vdB5VmQo9EoDBvSmkawqVC5TKZjpkVeRsuR8eyLuIDT2lQrYwkAvNzD01WFU8VkIrAxzfogVJef4-KCvS3jPoNMFldpIJfu2yxscrFLoCi0v57q89602JAqkVd5-ix4TaZlM5NvMt8maEROE/s1025/show-2023-dimebox-ohtani.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyC1gpTD4PeCNCRat40npQg07AgVT7bxBYUp51f54Mcn9vdB5VmQo9EoDBvSmkawqVC5TKZjpkVeRsuR8eyLuIDT2lQrYwkAvNzD01WFU8VkIrAxzfogVJef4-KCvS3jPoNMFldpIJfu2yxscrFLoCi0v57q89602JAqkVd5-ix4TaZlM5NvMt8maEROE/s320/show-2023-dimebox-ohtani.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2023 Topps #17</i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">There were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">three cards</span><span style="color: #999999;"> that I really wanted. The </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Ohtani </span><span style="color: #999999;">was one of them.</span></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDtygzkmexXjOECDVplObrTN1xIGFc2iCJfjzTjbiL88VdNV2MtlgnyImgaWtv2Pb1_IM8U__QUvi5hB-XbDxJXtFBmUDhsY9VCBeyK3OkXJavveV3CKopiKBrxGFKjgWrESI7Wc5RcH8JYaff4F8kpXE-4Nznrs2jcQhzg1D1foZqBYk5cwNzMhuam8/s810/show-2023-dimebox-sheet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="586" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaDtygzkmexXjOECDVplObrTN1xIGFc2iCJfjzTjbiL88VdNV2MtlgnyImgaWtv2Pb1_IM8U__QUvi5hB-XbDxJXtFBmUDhsY9VCBeyK3OkXJavveV3CKopiKBrxGFKjgWrESI7Wc5RcH8JYaff4F8kpXE-4Nznrs2jcQhzg1D1foZqBYk5cwNzMhuam8/w290-h400/show-2023-dimebox-sheet.jpg" width="290" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">The </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Nootbaar</span><span style="color: #999999;"> (my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">first rookie card</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of him) and </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Brady</span><span style="color: #999999;"> (no way I'll pass up his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999;"> for a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">dime</span><span style="color: #999999;">) were the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">other two</span><span style="color: #999999;">. The rest rounded out the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">buck</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">And that wraps up my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">card show purchases</span><span style="color: #999999;">, but I did come home with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">one more card</span><span style="color: #999999;">...</span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Card Show Freebie</span><span style="color: #999999;">: </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Jake Cronenworth Autograph</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-byemEptX-pk0s03haleNBcRt5AwIsHonygQx38rejwnWr5jp9RgI9hks0g1lKevaevNqL62BdasUMqa8NC_EymLhNCkQYzvDxKn3apk_o5qYQDX37cXicDioUYLHeIh9B5yYTxaDpRaJWEmu4YgwA3pYuwLtmYvjAucVh8oOKmkazW2ZzexVJrn6mk/s1025/cronenworth2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="727" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs-byemEptX-pk0s03haleNBcRt5AwIsHonygQx38rejwnWr5jp9RgI9hks0g1lKevaevNqL62BdasUMqa8NC_EymLhNCkQYzvDxKn3apk_o5qYQDX37cXicDioUYLHeIh9B5yYTxaDpRaJWEmu4YgwA3pYuwLtmYvjAucVh8oOKmkazW2ZzexVJrn6mk/s320/cronenworth2.jpg" width="227" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2021 Topps Chrome Black Auto #CBA-JCR</i></b></span></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">Found this card looking through my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">friend's display cases</span><span style="color: #999999;">. It was a little out of place, since he has mostly </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">high dollar </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">90's</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> inserts</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">modern graded rookie cards</span><span style="color: #999999;">. But as a</span><span style="color: #ffa400;"> Padres</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">fan</span><span style="color: #999999;">, I have hope this guy will bounce back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">2024</span><span style="color: #999999;">, so I asked how much he wanted for this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">autograph</span><span style="color: #999999;">. He told me to take it and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">buy him lunch</span><span style="color: #999999;"> the next time we hang out.</span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">Thanks </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Ben</span><span style="color: #999999;">! I'm going back to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">show</span><span style="color: #999999;"> this weekend and lunch is on me.</span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">Well that wraps up my </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">2nd</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">post </span><span style="color: #999999;">in </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">three days</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and here are </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">three quick observations</span><span style="color: #999999;">:</span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">#1</span><span style="color: #999999;">: I really </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">miss blogging</span><span style="color: #999999;"> about </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">#2</span><span style="color: #999999;">: My </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">writing</span><span style="color: #999999;">,</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> editing</span><span style="color: #999999;">, and</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> formatting skills</span><span style="color: #999999;"> are </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">rusty</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span><span style="color: #ffa400;">#3</span><span style="color: #999999;">: </span></span><span style="color: #999999;">I need to learn to keep things </span><span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">simple</span></span><span style="color: #999999;"> and </span><span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">straight to the point</span></span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="color: #999999; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999;">Thanks for taking the time to check out my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">blog</span><span style="color: #999999;">. Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Tuesday</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and sayonara!</span></div></span></div></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-64154522710743083282023-12-10T15:00:00.000-08:002023-12-10T15:00:00.127-08:00Getting Back Into the Game<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Sunday</span><span style="color: #999999;">! </span><i><span style="color: #999999;">Are you ready for some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">sports card posts</span><span style="color: #999999;">?</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I am fully aware that I haven't been very active in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blogosphere</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> lately. In fact, this year saw a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">significant drop</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the number of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">posts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I published on this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blog</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. But I'm hoping to bounce back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2024</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Cold starts have never worked for me, so if I have any hopes of getting back into a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">regular blogging routine</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I'd better start now.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">With </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blogger care packages</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">flea market finds</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and even a few</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> card show purchases</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> piling up in my office... I was wondering where the heck I should begin. Then </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@SumoMenkoMan/videos" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Ryan</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> texted me over the weekend about </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvSrHIX5a-0" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: red;">Godzilla Minus One</span></i></a><span style="color: #999999;">, which is the latest </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">movie</span><span style="color: #999999;"> in the franchise. Not sure if I've ever seen any of the </span><span style="color: #ffa400;"><i>Godzilla</i></span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">movies</span><span style="color: #999999;"> in the theaters, but I'm hoping to change that this holiday season.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSKlSfI0ixGOaeWZRrajDJvQymB2531pQDzF-HwF8tRN5fTVqhFvo8JDsZ5sVwr6mPLKblBxzpVker-noJkH3aCsMb3dqtvnn10GVt3uCLfhxjimFJ6MsUiNoNW8ySdvMIn-6lwQE-a3kulBlau2BAu-k3BjqIYUpualRL30A7YQdksoBtTDAnWjDMEk/s1025/tmv-2023-matsui.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1025" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSKlSfI0ixGOaeWZRrajDJvQymB2531pQDzF-HwF8tRN5fTVqhFvo8JDsZ5sVwr6mPLKblBxzpVker-noJkH3aCsMb3dqtvnn10GVt3uCLfhxjimFJ6MsUiNoNW8ySdvMIn-6lwQE-a3kulBlau2BAu-k3BjqIYUpualRL30A7YQdksoBtTDAnWjDMEk/s320/tmv-2023-matsui.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2006 Topps Topps Stars #TS-HM</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">His text reminded me of a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">stack of cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sitting on my desk with this </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Godzilla</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> right on top. </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">It was part of a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">care package</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dennis</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> over at </span><a href="https://toomanycg.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: red;">Too Many Verlanders</span></i></a><span style="color: #999999;"> sent me last </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">December</span><span style="color: #999999;">. Nope. That's not a typo. <i>One year ago.</i></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Since then he's sent me </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two additional packages</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and today... in honor of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Godzilla</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> being out in theaters (and the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ohtani</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">signing</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">yesterday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dodgers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">)... I'm going to show off the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Japanese</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball players</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (and a few other items) he sent my way.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_Ny7Rkn7biihOqWtc5J3leHA1Pek_qWvWFaqstAqVDOgV8sic2RRtRaxTRs3K1TrzZcXO1imdFREBwpP8gsfnqBLZpfnxoC149674eVBNBJcGjBfxWysa17WmVBdwDFefbFCH2A-H3seM-aM8_ZB7eSja-2avYnKpHhMpuvkfCnevlS8uuzwJ43p0ys/s1025/tmv-2023-ichiro.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="739" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_Ny7Rkn7biihOqWtc5J3leHA1Pek_qWvWFaqstAqVDOgV8sic2RRtRaxTRs3K1TrzZcXO1imdFREBwpP8gsfnqBLZpfnxoC149674eVBNBJcGjBfxWysa17WmVBdwDFefbFCH2A-H3seM-aM8_ZB7eSja-2avYnKpHhMpuvkfCnevlS8uuzwJ43p0ys/s320/tmv-2023-ichiro.jpg" width="231" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2021 Topps A&G #23</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dennis</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> has a way of picking </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collection</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. My </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ichiro</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> are sorted by year in a binder and this is the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">first</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">only </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2021</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in it.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">He also sent me these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three hits</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I didn't have: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8ajHnBYdfNuepqAzi82gztAMJHGNrSQP3uf4K1nu9X4xZUezKFqjoQDU4rWSHvF16NADj_u38AvjznymL00gIWlkppxD_SRu7nrReeOnVwa9YJ_7wB_KZTp7tyguX0Of5j54B5Hl0-w7eJAKjBCXgdgBGAjyivjT3MGtOkpdtGH8EypNQCCXxqImVW0/s1025/arihara1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="1025" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8ajHnBYdfNuepqAzi82gztAMJHGNrSQP3uf4K1nu9X4xZUezKFqjoQDU4rWSHvF16NADj_u38AvjznymL00gIWlkppxD_SRu7nrReeOnVwa9YJ_7wB_KZTp7tyguX0Of5j54B5Hl0-w7eJAKjBCXgdgBGAjyivjT3MGtOkpdtGH8EypNQCCXxqImVW0/s320/arihara1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2021 Chrome Update Autographs #CUSA-KA</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Arihara</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> only spent a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">couple</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">seasons</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> over here and wasn't exactly a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">household name</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhme0c7bmhOkume9t5fkC17r8RB90BWan6Wgfe5nnD5cgGfxPsQUtkixfhtT3rYwuj_RNKFclPkvXcs0VZm3HVWLSMVXtFZAqug4E94jExvjN8hNe56rhi1VCAc28259UpVsCup71PdZcdqNCfcESAL6dSiYlCiTI0zoPieSUycLU4Xm2Cpt1yZfq_vUho/s1025/fukudome7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="740" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhme0c7bmhOkume9t5fkC17r8RB90BWan6Wgfe5nnD5cgGfxPsQUtkixfhtT3rYwuj_RNKFclPkvXcs0VZm3HVWLSMVXtFZAqug4E94jExvjN8hNe56rhi1VCAc28259UpVsCup71PdZcdqNCfcESAL6dSiYlCiTI0zoPieSUycLU4Xm2Cpt1yZfq_vUho/s320/fukudome7.jpg" width="231" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2010 Topps National Chicle Relics #NCR-KF</i></b></span></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">On the other hand, I feel like the majority of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball fans</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> around in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">late</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2000's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> remember </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Fukudome</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. He had one heck of a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">MLB</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">debut</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and his first month in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bigs</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> was stellar. There was even a </span><a href="https://oddculture.com/horry-kow-fukudome-cubs-put-kibosh-on-offensive-t-shirt/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">controversial t-shirt</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> he was depicted on that made </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">national news</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYnZF769VKjK7qQrgHIkL53PZ-VjgG3gqA33Yf2hOM-YqRi3k1iIj4Z02OhhwrUStCeQrY-uKRRa8vMW6nYFbwMz0-xh8xOrHmgosmybMUGfk409upQkjfTiM81GsQI7KGPqUIScPQtGLtHsyuNj65M7PSYfjn6WGNatKWzt78V40vAXIEpa8sn1AlyU/s1025/tanaka5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1025" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYnZF769VKjK7qQrgHIkL53PZ-VjgG3gqA33Yf2hOM-YqRi3k1iIj4Z02OhhwrUStCeQrY-uKRRa8vMW6nYFbwMz0-xh8xOrHmgosmybMUGfk409upQkjfTiM81GsQI7KGPqUIScPQtGLtHsyuNj65M7PSYfjn6WGNatKWzt78V40vAXIEpa8sn1AlyU/s320/tanaka5.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2018 Topps Player's Weekend Patch #PWP-MA</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Tanaka</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two-time all-star</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and spent his entire </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">seven season </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">MLB</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> career</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">New York Yankees</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, so he should be a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">household name</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> among </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball fans</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. <i>Anyone else remember him going </i></span><i><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">24</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">-</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">0</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1.27 ERA</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2013</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Rakuten Golden Eagles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">?</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOm3nDzZAgqgIpWv0Q4NcM_0TdFsKqO8gHK26GPyIa6mp1BW8R0e2iqQROxbkJG8Qqc14chN_ebGDUyys8RNUmTc0bw4nDok5PAS4ffkr8-coZ-E6PrkURGEt1507Ey5g8EGPsb4WByjA1arD8wEexe45NtzdNAYPxPQI4BDatzjB_DmptlInKRiMrI0/s2557/tmv-2023-japanese.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2557" data-original-width="2281" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOm3nDzZAgqgIpWv0Q4NcM_0TdFsKqO8gHK26GPyIa6mp1BW8R0e2iqQROxbkJG8Qqc14chN_ebGDUyys8RNUmTc0bw4nDok5PAS4ffkr8-coZ-E6PrkURGEt1507Ey5g8EGPsb4WByjA1arD8wEexe45NtzdNAYPxPQI4BDatzjB_DmptlInKRiMrI0/w356-h400/tmv-2023-japanese.jpg" width="356" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'll round out the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">huge lot</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Japanese</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball players</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Hideo Nomo</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytkFGn1Ddx6jBPWddIETQMs_XoGY6oLaTClhw5cHC7_fHUk7YIrTAkSHZ66AMkiOvpKqS6gbYCkyvN_0IR5JuQIG5uS5U3gjjr02POzD9PwKXq9a_F5AHRVFzQCI4v5wTm8VUaYRFh8gCQdFoDJfIVHAeFhhj9JhcCmK2kXWtjGOlOcVm8Lo-ns1nMTo/s1025/tmv-2023-nomo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="733" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytkFGn1Ddx6jBPWddIETQMs_XoGY6oLaTClhw5cHC7_fHUk7YIrTAkSHZ66AMkiOvpKqS6gbYCkyvN_0IR5JuQIG5uS5U3gjjr02POzD9PwKXq9a_F5AHRVFzQCI4v5wTm8VUaYRFh8gCQdFoDJfIVHAeFhhj9JhcCmK2kXWtjGOlOcVm8Lo-ns1nMTo/s320/tmv-2023-nomo.jpg" width="229" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1995 Flair Wave of the Future #10</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nomo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> opened the door for guys like </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Matsui</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ichiro</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Tanaka</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ohtani</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and is still the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">MLB</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">career leader</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">wins</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> among </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Japanese</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">born</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> pitchers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. And up until </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">August</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, he was the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">career leader</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">strikeouts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Yu Darvish</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> passed him up and ironically... </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nomo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (who works for the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Padres</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">) was at the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">game</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Anyways... getting back the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... at the height of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nomomania</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was probably selling for </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$20</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$30</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Probably more in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">LA</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUtQc-ZnT7UttTO72aazBJnOsKa52HSgT4QGHKLwEoEPmdCUpX0yD8yhZKq_s3pgiblLjpLSZF0JozUMJylK-gSE7X7t7iu9n8XNPdD4NPJnKcadeeyoBRGhnqruDi4GogvsneSqauVAzZtAkzHAIsI1gwkF7bjjvULZ4ICGLqgcXPxXIB-giIWaiuaU/s1475/tmv-2023-nomo-box-topper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="1021" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUtQc-ZnT7UttTO72aazBJnOsKa52HSgT4QGHKLwEoEPmdCUpX0yD8yhZKq_s3pgiblLjpLSZF0JozUMJylK-gSE7X7t7iu9n8XNPdD4NPJnKcadeeyoBRGhnqruDi4GogvsneSqauVAzZtAkzHAIsI1gwkF7bjjvULZ4ICGLqgcXPxXIB-giIWaiuaU/w139-h200/tmv-2023-nomo-box-topper.jpg" width="139" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkfYjL3pOUOc3E2xuLfSEfQcNKWhCY5tQtLVBYGD1zaf0eaDxLiWsVN3tBVz2BABdaH5dsNqu-cjCsffjJjqTjmPL8euUHMQrozYFBSle2pa7A16vRopsaxUnFXe6PmbTWT7Ddq-ZsvAKFQv2IVN_HEyvvrH3qQMV_MRDQ70ow73_3lCXeJn8M_E5r5w/s1475/tmv-2023-nomo-box-topper2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1475" data-original-width="1024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkfYjL3pOUOc3E2xuLfSEfQcNKWhCY5tQtLVBYGD1zaf0eaDxLiWsVN3tBVz2BABdaH5dsNqu-cjCsffjJjqTjmPL8euUHMQrozYFBSle2pa7A16vRopsaxUnFXe6PmbTWT7Ddq-ZsvAKFQv2IVN_HEyvvrH3qQMV_MRDQ70ow73_3lCXeJn8M_E5r5w/w139-h200/tmv-2023-nomo-box-topper2.jpg" width="139" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1996 Topps BIG Topps #NNO</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">What you're looking at is a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">really cool insert</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">90's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. C'mon... you know I like </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">oversized cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. These </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">postcard sized cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">inserted</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (like </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box toppers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">) into </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">specially marked team sets</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that were sold at </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Walmart</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I had never owned one of these until </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dennis</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sent me this one.</span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">In an effort to tie in some other items he sent me, here are some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">new</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Jake Cronenworth</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">San Diego Padres PC</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrgBfPj4Q6JBl2D8-k3PPzlQMyDqW_Nz37OuZ9miQdfV9lwJyLsFq3K1_1rihzOYGfxZ5FWDmSWt9GNCSNVZl-bPoIwg6XrX7ZCNf0OLMQo9ya8qMBYyOGEGhokTu3ndh62YoXuYWa_vPcbJJu2fWlJc5YsTsjrdJtT90ytYWpCb_iGoitwcO7nezBKU/s2969/tmv-2023-cronenworths.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1950" data-original-width="2969" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrgBfPj4Q6JBl2D8-k3PPzlQMyDqW_Nz37OuZ9miQdfV9lwJyLsFq3K1_1rihzOYGfxZ5FWDmSWt9GNCSNVZl-bPoIwg6XrX7ZCNf0OLMQo9ya8qMBYyOGEGhokTu3ndh62YoXuYWa_vPcbJJu2fWlJc5YsTsjrdJtT90ytYWpCb_iGoitwcO7nezBKU/s320/tmv-2023-cronenworths.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">One </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">shiny card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> really stood out from the bunch:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHlrkwZEUGhNu2ViD5ZQSzCqzZH836rttT7TW7V7KbALPoAuClQbhyZQo_Nqj9IV9xYWNtr9MqlvzIdosOBtAq6cAU_2eIvxLc8GNmelhGlCjn8sbIJD9JHkwyXRlLKRxiN-Hf2q4n1pZ7-87Iuxsb8XE4cWII1ZJS0aP2E4t1h5NsmXFQt2yA7LDq5c/s1025/tmv-2023-cronenworth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="735" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHlrkwZEUGhNu2ViD5ZQSzCqzZH836rttT7TW7V7KbALPoAuClQbhyZQo_Nqj9IV9xYWNtr9MqlvzIdosOBtAq6cAU_2eIvxLc8GNmelhGlCjn8sbIJD9JHkwyXRlLKRxiN-Hf2q4n1pZ7-87Iuxsb8XE4cWII1ZJS0aP2E4t1h5NsmXFQt2yA7LDq5c/s320/tmv-2023-cronenworth.jpg" width="229" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2022 Topps Chrome Future Stars #FS-9</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Those of you who are familiar with </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dennis</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... know that he's a huge </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Michigan Wolverines</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">fan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">/</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collector</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Cronenworth</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">born</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">raised</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Michigan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and played </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three seasons</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Wolverines</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> before entering the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">MLB Draft</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'm </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">super excited</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dennis</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> as his</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"> #1 </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">ranked</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"> Wolverines</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> are headed to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Southern California</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">play</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">#4 Alabama</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">CFP</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">semifinals</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I will totally be rooting for them as well as the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Washington Huskies</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the other </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">CFP</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">semifinal game</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'll also be pulling for </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">San Jose State University</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> as they're </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">bowl bound</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> too. They play </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Coastal Carolina</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">2023 Hawaii Bowl</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">December 23rd</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Let's go </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Spartans</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">!</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Here are a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pair</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Tyler Ervin</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">autographs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dennis</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> added to my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">SJSU PC</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_BT_LFNMURJmLkrO97rSu01JKopJlbZFPlf1lN6jSDoIfV8_9lX2b_n_IQgSD50eVJtKAB8Rn5XuSxQIS3TfwW5GMac5D2bVbVIRkOw4n0gaSjFs2dzXvR4ATj5JUF1-wImW7mF_2i1jrioVZwvv_WJ1f5d4vad0xFq917lqWqlgVKxHx0QDC76eSVw/s1025/ervin2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="737" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9_BT_LFNMURJmLkrO97rSu01JKopJlbZFPlf1lN6jSDoIfV8_9lX2b_n_IQgSD50eVJtKAB8Rn5XuSxQIS3TfwW5GMac5D2bVbVIRkOw4n0gaSjFs2dzXvR4ATj5JUF1-wImW7mF_2i1jrioVZwvv_WJ1f5d4vad0xFq917lqWqlgVKxHx0QDC76eSVw/s320/ervin2.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2016 Panini Classics Significant Signatures #233</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbwrieuX0ntLskMbzBU_P34_Nt8prCSWz20X6VaUg-Q_Wx-wIDwfQHvEHIL1Xrd80doaji6rGcdGdT01qWey_xriKqzizlpbpiPsbfkFydrP6HY16BPPf-kcRO4yD3FDf1PdVyrJC9qGG1d2ST-wtsF-N1sw8ei02ZJ0BxQKOItVgLy7vL6woJdAEDlQ/s1025/ervin1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1025" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjbwrieuX0ntLskMbzBU_P34_Nt8prCSWz20X6VaUg-Q_Wx-wIDwfQHvEHIL1Xrd80doaji6rGcdGdT01qWey_xriKqzizlpbpiPsbfkFydrP6HY16BPPf-kcRO4yD3FDf1PdVyrJC9qGG1d2ST-wtsF-N1sw8ei02ZJ0BxQKOItVgLy7vL6woJdAEDlQ/s320/ervin1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2016 Panini Prime Signatures #212</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ervin</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">absolute stud</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Spartans</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">senior year</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> when he rushed for over </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1,600</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">yards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">13 </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">touchdowns</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Although his </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">NFL</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">career</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was less than stellar, he did end up playing </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">five seasons</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three teams</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">David Fales</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was another </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Spartan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> who shined in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">San Jose</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlza-XPFwa1o7d1wCHLHWsKeoEVPLUWwWRvRp8qrTNwOylw8qMNBpDxlRwrUoInbTlMIGHbX9mjE6Y2zn5xRH3rUFhU12KLVD_8ubjWRglia5L_VguXC0Zkmw6cr5lwDQlhj34CpoRDi3rHJwQp-7KTD8LNH7AvydQKq-qK5BBOFqnOPRRLqtTmetBIE/s1025/tmv-2023-fales.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlza-XPFwa1o7d1wCHLHWsKeoEVPLUWwWRvRp8qrTNwOylw8qMNBpDxlRwrUoInbTlMIGHbX9mjE6Y2zn5xRH3rUFhU12KLVD_8ubjWRglia5L_VguXC0Zkmw6cr5lwDQlhj34CpoRDi3rHJwQp-7KTD8LNH7AvydQKq-qK5BBOFqnOPRRLqtTmetBIE/s320/tmv-2023-fales.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2014 SP Authentic Canvas Collection #C-30</i></b></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">He was a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">teammate</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Ervin</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> at </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">SJSU</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2012</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2013</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and finished with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">over </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">8,000</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> passing yards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> during his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two seasons</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> there before entering the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2014 NFL Draft</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtz4UKz7yna8-YpYoOdq5CCN0ESLtjSN4k3O2qaMaGKplrTSqwoxwJIamtXDfLvoTwlH4-NvfbJIdE81BNfmocN-c_uDegF1lIPvqw8iVz5EEWmHIFWeiFQNlpOk4Efj24UfLCICizfq-0iB0vZ3fNOe28elGceSLfjB7BnREzx4JZ7uK6EzOXK4rZxYs/s294/tmv-2023-fales2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="294" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtz4UKz7yna8-YpYoOdq5CCN0ESLtjSN4k3O2qaMaGKplrTSqwoxwJIamtXDfLvoTwlH4-NvfbJIdE81BNfmocN-c_uDegF1lIPvqw8iVz5EEWmHIFWeiFQNlpOk4Efj24UfLCICizfq-0iB0vZ3fNOe28elGceSLfjB7BnREzx4JZ7uK6EzOXK4rZxYs/s1600/tmv-2023-fales2.jpg" width="294" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Chicago Bears</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> selected him in the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">6th Round</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">facial expression</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> pretty much sums up his </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">NFL</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">career</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dennis</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sent me a bunch of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">other things</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but I'm already over </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three hours</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> into this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and I'm guessing most of you have already checked out. </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">But for those of you who stuck around, in honor of the </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Los Angeles Lakers</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> becoming the </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">first</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">NBA In-Season Tournament Champions</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, here's </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">one more </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Michigan</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> native</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">Dennis</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sent me:</span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHlrkwZEUGhNu2ViD5ZQSzCqzZH836rttT7TW7V7KbALPoAuClQbhyZQo_Nqj9IV9xYWNtr9MqlvzIdosOBtAq6cAU_2eIvxLc8GNmelhGlCjn8sbIJD9JHkwyXRlLKRxiN-Hf2q4n1pZ7-87Iuxsb8XE4cWII1ZJS0aP2E4t1h5NsmXFQt2yA7LDq5c/s1025/tmv-2023-cronenworth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></span></a><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TpaJBDXpIlHQrprlYPTLUgXk69umhLPd_A_oZG0M1lgNB8CaCPuishmrkwQmUe3-j8bnpsa0UlE5Ad7rKbS7G549IzTQUVEHBrGSrpo3IrKK46tCTJPSLqAnsMCsm5sXAkZaooM3CmbeLSFdpuKX_fE10qcJaAVh8G7d4Cszxpum-dyQXbbSV1bm3fI/s1675/tmv-2023-set-magic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1675" data-original-width="1204" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7TpaJBDXpIlHQrprlYPTLUgXk69umhLPd_A_oZG0M1lgNB8CaCPuishmrkwQmUe3-j8bnpsa0UlE5Ad7rKbS7G549IzTQUVEHBrGSrpo3IrKK46tCTJPSLqAnsMCsm5sXAkZaooM3CmbeLSFdpuKX_fE10qcJaAVh8G7d4Cszxpum-dyQXbbSV1bm3fI/s320/tmv-2023-set-magic.jpg" width="230" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1990-91 Star Slam #1-9</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Haven't been a big </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">NBA</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">fan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for the past decade or so, but when I was... the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Lakers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">team</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I started rooting for them during the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Showtime Era</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Magic Johnson</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> played a huge part in my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">fanfare</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3lJvCcYmK8Z1bvWrCEQto1llr_hYDc_i8hdk80xdq4cPS4JiX6F-BQgAAU6vMNafjpTwmPoRBwrTi7O6qMJlW-ZYGmuvFCKVbaH5mQUHJr36Bk2oDmTrCYnCWtCvJMS_2K0ZRgO6eoj7DBOFMaNEGiCkjINOiHvWNwfm-pzjA8bXg9cE0DOl-9aLq_s/s1675/tmv-2023-set-magic2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1206" data-original-width="1675" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3lJvCcYmK8Z1bvWrCEQto1llr_hYDc_i8hdk80xdq4cPS4JiX6F-BQgAAU6vMNafjpTwmPoRBwrTi7O6qMJlW-ZYGmuvFCKVbaH5mQUHJr36Bk2oDmTrCYnCWtCvJMS_2K0ZRgO6eoj7DBOFMaNEGiCkjINOiHvWNwfm-pzjA8bXg9cE0DOl-9aLq_s/s320/tmv-2023-set-magic2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div></div></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Magic</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> attended </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">college</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Michigan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but wasn't a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Wolverine</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. He was a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Michigan State Spartan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I've got no love for them... or the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball team</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> he has an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">ownership</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> stake in. However I will casually root for the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Lakers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and of course </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Shohei Ohtani</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Well that's it for now. I'm going to try to write at least </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one post a week</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> until the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">holidays</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... then fingers crossed... get back into the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three posts per week</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> routine in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">2024</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">By the way... </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">thank you</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to those who left </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">thoughtful comments</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Papa Fuji</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">buddy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mike</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">posts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. They </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">lifted my spirits</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> during that </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rough patch</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and were much </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">appreciated</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I'm very fortunate to be a part of this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card blogging community</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Sunday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara! </span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #01ffff; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>Overtime</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Almost forgot... if you're a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">college football fan</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">, head over to </span><a href="https://cardsoncards.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><i><b><span style="color: red;">Cards on Cards</span></b></i></a><span style="color: #999999;"> and enter </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Kerry's</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><a href="https://cardsoncards.blogspot.com/2023/12/contest-time-college-bowl-pick-em-14.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">College Bowl Pick'em</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">contest</span><span style="color: #999999;">. The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">rules</span><span style="color: #999999;"> are simple and there are </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">multiple prizes</span><span style="color: #999999;">. Don't believe me, click </span><a href="https://cardsoncards.blogspot.com/2023/12/contest-time-college-bowl-pick-em-14.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> and see for yourself.</span></span></div></div></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-4681724471678091002023-11-21T15:00:00.000-08:002023-11-21T15:00:00.128-08:00One Helluva Friend<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1998</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was a pretty </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">memorable year</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2kotLg9ufQLde4OGWeQNlFKc2jsdU1epwOPeqt5nfVBVnEC_z_10LvkehDybZcQBUbqK7dOAyajHufTgqD60gB_ECRjz5wSZTIFE471XIJkkLUszIz0_bmIqtq01Fh5UtqvcX8-K82EPbg9bx-WCZRZs7SsjV2tgBoE87a85FzujARlgo73Bgh4lgZY/s639/mcgwire:sosa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="639" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2kotLg9ufQLde4OGWeQNlFKc2jsdU1epwOPeqt5nfVBVnEC_z_10LvkehDybZcQBUbqK7dOAyajHufTgqD60gB_ECRjz5wSZTIFE471XIJkkLUszIz0_bmIqtq01Fh5UtqvcX8-K82EPbg9bx-WCZRZs7SsjV2tgBoE87a85FzujARlgo73Bgh4lgZY/s320/mcgwire:sosa.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">1999 Finest Split Screen Dual Refractor #SS1</span></i></b><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">There was the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">McGwire</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Sosa</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">home run chase</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRNSWbSMzQkpCEZ_TXWPKDFuZW6SdIE4u-mCOx0hGAGLyOnkc8Mj_tnnlA1xCV5sPLzjz9Q4zF6JQoYhzwKIK9HW6npnSpS9wSRNbsYI3oeeUSXX_l-aorSCLKr-9QNiBteIiemNprYQCozHdIUqBeWf85hEMAXArk2PcG6EGLHRLP5k9wDJI9ZdCNQA/s1025/mike-gwynn-ws.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="736" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQRNSWbSMzQkpCEZ_TXWPKDFuZW6SdIE4u-mCOx0hGAGLyOnkc8Mj_tnnlA1xCV5sPLzjz9Q4zF6JQoYhzwKIK9HW6npnSpS9wSRNbsYI3oeeUSXX_l-aorSCLKr-9QNiBteIiemNprYQCozHdIUqBeWf85hEMAXArk2PcG6EGLHRLP5k9wDJI9ZdCNQA/w144-h200/mike-gwynn-ws.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwXZMAxpK9FudrcO79BAsJ1pK6ncv8gD3OHai37mvlZBC_qP7Zgsx6TpA6dCSotlrQcSCo72o01wAVzGucLN6pScp_g1oiaTO_PEWFWQR_XQ807BHpvMCBaKYShjXoc2nExfrsSXxA9hpytXd_rDShoX6FtiIeq4KZOxNnCaTujmzISX-Qviv_cFU1GQ/s1025/mike-gwynn-ws2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="733" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguwXZMAxpK9FudrcO79BAsJ1pK6ncv8gD3OHai37mvlZBC_qP7Zgsx6TpA6dCSotlrQcSCo72o01wAVzGucLN6pScp_g1oiaTO_PEWFWQR_XQ807BHpvMCBaKYShjXoc2nExfrsSXxA9hpytXd_rDShoX6FtiIeq4KZOxNnCaTujmzISX-Qviv_cFU1GQ/w143-h200/mike-gwynn-ws2.jpg" width="143" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2002 Upper Deck World Series Heroes #57</i></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">And even more importantly (to me)... the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">San Diego Padres</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> went to the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">World Series</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (but </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">lost</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">New York Yankees</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">That's also the year I got hired in my district... and started working at the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">local card shop</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> located right across the street from the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">elementary school</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I taught at.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAw7sy-gEGoNitdADXD_qWjBMvwPWw4zUjTNANics8DgyWMqYSA1lFoh2xlKs2YiB1fTmsFe3JVe-VQGfi6OsmZxzki0X-4Nl0wRh1NvKcDG7c_JT8pDV4kdeFoXcEFOfY2jgXBu8rTQOSEPpP4PayqWCDAPWHz9WH-Y1hl6gGlznx-BbWtTRgQZrI60/s1243/mikeandfedor.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1243" data-original-width="738" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAw7sy-gEGoNitdADXD_qWjBMvwPWw4zUjTNANics8DgyWMqYSA1lFoh2xlKs2YiB1fTmsFe3JVe-VQGfi6OsmZxzki0X-4Nl0wRh1NvKcDG7c_JT8pDV4kdeFoXcEFOfY2jgXBu8rTQOSEPpP4PayqWCDAPWHz9WH-Y1hl6gGlznx-BbWtTRgQZrI60/s320/mikeandfedor.JPG" width="190" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>Mike & Fedor Emelianenko</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">That's where I met my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">buddy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mike</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e7XL4wW1buzm4xNrRZBm5Gkq-sfvLL1_qZ7vPaPsrpBUHMTqFbBmXi2XpryMCDjIj5QcjJtzjpcJq7wtHMjsaRnWzwBBw0BFAYk-vBBk2y9jHazunAN1dtKJnsEVfygmtrrm87EPCt38OiARhoHEarFPnyIVaTZ6fEL4an2IakQ_L9JyTp1hVe2HQ-4/s1600/roadtrip-dodgerdog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5e7XL4wW1buzm4xNrRZBm5Gkq-sfvLL1_qZ7vPaPsrpBUHMTqFbBmXi2XpryMCDjIj5QcjJtzjpcJq7wtHMjsaRnWzwBBw0BFAYk-vBBk2y9jHazunAN1dtKJnsEVfygmtrrm87EPCt38OiARhoHEarFPnyIVaTZ6fEL4an2IakQ_L9JyTp1hVe2HQ-4/s320/roadtrip-dodgerdog.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>Me, Dodger Dog, Tony, & Mike on 8/9/19</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I've written about him </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">numerous times</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blog</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">. We've went on </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-cardboard-road-trip-swap-meet.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">road trips</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">, set up and walked around </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2016/06/friendship-and-flea-market-freebies.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">flea markets</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">, gone </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2011/09/shark-hunting-redux.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">'graphing</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">, attended tons of </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2019/08/road-trip-pt-1-dodgers-baseball.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">sporting events</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">, and hung out at </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">toy</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and </span><a href="https://sanjosefuji.blogspot.com/2016/07/161-over-budget.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">card shows</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">. </span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">And over the years... he's become one of my </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">closest friends</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Fast forward </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">twenty-five years</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #ffa400;">2023</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and this year has been pretty </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">memorable</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> too. Unfortunately... I've gotta say... the </span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">past few months</span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> hasn't been positive.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikB6cZ-nFW-pN1euYsx_haXTAh_q4Wqii78alUBxpFPhLt5q3mX-_Q7ovmwOhawugU6OkY3mMSGjGtQsYthzYmT6U_UAkZl2jeq7p1Y39-IwAedHFBDQU7Gig4OFn00uI26j3K_Xg06m1y2wkUc_pjhujDnikdThBRoecZftW0I7nPuEXeOchxjTtAnFI/s1025/mike-padres.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="737" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikB6cZ-nFW-pN1euYsx_haXTAh_q4Wqii78alUBxpFPhLt5q3mX-_Q7ovmwOhawugU6OkY3mMSGjGtQsYthzYmT6U_UAkZl2jeq7p1Y39-IwAedHFBDQU7Gig4OFn00uI26j3K_Xg06m1y2wkUc_pjhujDnikdThBRoecZftW0I7nPuEXeOchxjTtAnFI/s320/mike-padres.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2023 Topps Heritage 1974 Stamps #74BS 25-28</i></b></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Let's see... the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Padres</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and their </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$255M</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">payroll</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> failed to make the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">playoffs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">A's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> had the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">worst record in baseball</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">MLB</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">owners</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> just approved their </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">relocation</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Las Vegas</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SPV6B7Qawko2Agu0dAcr1MEJ5bHSSZ7wW7Qx_Zx2sgZoaED88eccmogVQVGVNVQu8e-BLfqgneU5I-wAEyfOYJIMkpWmbdYcM4b8aS_8ZIBWK2OM6EcLjmQM1hqRsRS05HPzdCZiNUIWZhJQlJXiJhB5cBwdEmX9c8pZvnwKO1It_TqyWcppXxlduuk/s1600/mikeandcab.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SPV6B7Qawko2Agu0dAcr1MEJ5bHSSZ7wW7Qx_Zx2sgZoaED88eccmogVQVGVNVQu8e-BLfqgneU5I-wAEyfOYJIMkpWmbdYcM4b8aS_8ZIBWK2OM6EcLjmQM1hqRsRS05HPzdCZiNUIWZhJQlJXiJhB5cBwdEmX9c8pZvnwKO1It_TqyWcppXxlduuk/s320/mikeandcab.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Steve Caballero & Mike</span></i></b><span style="color: #999999;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Last month</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Papa Fuji</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">passed away</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Sadly... exactly </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one month later</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mike</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> did too. He was only </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">fifty-one years old</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEzOmvyG_1T_xtoLHeGjTIU97FZbSfVCGSUnUVOjpaY2exylmKS6hRpzaMWPZm8IWaW9m74HNIkG_C8qnR169Xt1R-0VltcGg5q67Ze2xkg8c_9Y6_NzUHu_-dSX0Y3mpB_QOzv9SkHjKMOyAyMTwncaylTXRnUFJo6_7BhlVSbq-D3C1alTj7tca7OA/s4032/IMG_3628.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEzOmvyG_1T_xtoLHeGjTIU97FZbSfVCGSUnUVOjpaY2exylmKS6hRpzaMWPZm8IWaW9m74HNIkG_C8qnR169Xt1R-0VltcGg5q67Ze2xkg8c_9Y6_NzUHu_-dSX0Y3mpB_QOzv9SkHjKMOyAyMTwncaylTXRnUFJo6_7BhlVSbq-D3C1alTj7tca7OA/s320/IMG_3628.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>Frank, Me, & Mike</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">majority of those years</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were spent </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collecting</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">selling cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">autographed memorabilia</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">toys</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. His </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">generosity</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">kindness</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">humor</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> constantly drew other </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">vendors</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">shoppers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> around him. I was always amazed at how many people he knew... but it makes sense, because he was one of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">good guys</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one helluva friend</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (even if you're a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Yankees</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">49ers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">fan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"><b>Rest in peace homie!</b></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I miss ya. Until we meet again...</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Tuesday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-91691059547132719292023-10-24T15:00:00.001-07:002023-10-24T15:00:00.140-07:00Fever, Chills, Loss of Smell, and a Mysterious Pin<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAqVozip1idi2XhSWOUqPuk5MwjOD35871BSElDcxv4tFOkeYBxf4k49YX0RNo2SpRF3-3buxiDz-qJOGSMxzIMXhg8mFGvfgsg_DeV3PNWfkHujG8RvLEA79kn_59ZmvTZHCuqlFVWFKZfs7lmwX2AeFADsAk3d_BXLM2MNIj2S4mBZreP00mKtE04E/s2065/care-packages-2023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1715" data-original-width="2065" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAqVozip1idi2XhSWOUqPuk5MwjOD35871BSElDcxv4tFOkeYBxf4k49YX0RNo2SpRF3-3buxiDz-qJOGSMxzIMXhg8mFGvfgsg_DeV3PNWfkHujG8RvLEA79kn_59ZmvTZHCuqlFVWFKZfs7lmwX2AeFADsAk3d_BXLM2MNIj2S4mBZreP00mKtE04E/s320/care-packages-2023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Packages</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> are piled up in my office. Some of them are </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">online purchases</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Others are </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">care packages</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> fellow </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">bloggers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">friends</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> have sent my way. Hopefully none of these people are offended that I haven't opened up their </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">generous gifts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">As many of you know... lately... I've been </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">a little distracted</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with the recent passing of my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">father</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. My </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">immune system</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> must have been low, because a few days later I had my first run-in with </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Covid</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Holy cow... this virus completely knocked me out for </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">four days</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Fever, chills, headaches, stuffy head, an earache, loss of smell and taste, body aches, and a really nasty cough pretty much summarizes my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">personal experience</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">infectious disease</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Thankfully... every day since </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Saturday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> has been a little better. As I laid in bed this morning, I decided to read all of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">thoughtful comments</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> people left on my previous post. They brought a smile to my face and tears to my eyes. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Thank you</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for those </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">very kind words</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Getting back to those </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">packages</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... I'd love to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sit down</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rip open</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">organize</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> all of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> awaiting me in those </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">boxes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">bubble mailers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">PWE's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I have the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">time</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (that's something you probably won't read on this blog again anytime soon), but not the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">energy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. My district says I can't go back into my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">classroom</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> until </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Thursday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but I might be out the whole week. I'm still </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">very fatigued</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and pretty sure my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">students</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">colleagues</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> wouldn't appreciate my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">obnoxious cough</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I did open up one </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">package</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> before climbing back into bed. It wasn't chosen by random. It was something I </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">purchased</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">morning</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">father passed away</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Papa Fuji</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> wasn't a huge </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baseball fan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. He didn't really watch the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sport</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> growing up on the pineapple fields and by the time he came to the mainland... it just wasn't his thing.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">However after doing some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">research</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> a while back, I discovered a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hall of fame catcher</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Athletics</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> hit a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">home run</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">day</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> he was </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">born</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I immediately checked online to see if he had any </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> issued from my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">father's birth year</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Outside of a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">single</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and seemingly </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">rare </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Exhibit</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I came up empty-handed. I did find a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pin</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> depicting him produced by a g</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">um company</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and ironically... there was an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">auction</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> ending the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">same morning</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> he </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">passed away</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Here's the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">latest addition</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">A's PC</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and an </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">item</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that will forever be linked to my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">father</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQVgc2kynTdzcA_kB6dn1_0Hy7IG2U4WojrN105zade6XjCQ0WnKwkPocbpbYvYrjvR_MY03ojVlMJUO7raQDC761xEGhrtekyqkZJD_N0O6QLHqEHHuWoQMW7eyGqcRXgHbrWVcGhVefv25dCXE-ptZby8An-Ie7ljdnJeOnAU5KmUagF18Q0T7YEeI/s365/cochrane1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="365" data-original-width="365" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQVgc2kynTdzcA_kB6dn1_0Hy7IG2U4WojrN105zade6XjCQ0WnKwkPocbpbYvYrjvR_MY03ojVlMJUO7raQDC761xEGhrtekyqkZJD_N0O6QLHqEHHuWoQMW7eyGqcRXgHbrWVcGhVefv25dCXE-ptZby8An-Ie7ljdnJeOnAU5KmUagF18Q0T7YEeI/s320/cochrane1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1932 Orbit Gum Pins #28</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Sadly there isn't a lot of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">information</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> out there on these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pins</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. <i>Does anyone know the story behind these? How they were distributed?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">By the way... I'm gonna start working on </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">another blog post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to address the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">state of the blog</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Hopefully I'll publish it this week. We'll see how things play out with my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">health</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">work</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">family stuff</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Until then... thanks again for all of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">considerate</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">kind comments</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> everyone wrote on my last </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Just </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one more reason</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I'm </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">grateful</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card community</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hobby</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blog</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Tuesday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-53426384114121612212023-10-21T13:00:00.001-07:002023-10-21T13:00:00.143-07:00The Final Field Trip<span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">past few months</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> have been quite the whirlwind... so much that I had to access my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">family's </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Google</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> calendar</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to wrap my head around when and where things took place.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJPIhHeEb4abMTuBbOFYQsVPzmJUkSiTbH4y52saNRuOWNVKgW8DoB5vjUVPGxzHEGOb6MKOTCuqLY4aJOW8xgje5UuL-EZuWkQWWOmbK6nhmWVeoffZ-cDsptXf-WJcPzPGMZD1gNytH86JygojFpLJM1sNBHPAyJbHXvu2Lav5aHAcvwgNq6Q0SnhQ/s3443/dad-jack-daniels.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3443" data-original-width="2080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJPIhHeEb4abMTuBbOFYQsVPzmJUkSiTbH4y52saNRuOWNVKgW8DoB5vjUVPGxzHEGOb6MKOTCuqLY4aJOW8xgje5UuL-EZuWkQWWOmbK6nhmWVeoffZ-cDsptXf-WJcPzPGMZD1gNytH86JygojFpLJM1sNBHPAyJbHXvu2Lav5aHAcvwgNq6Q0SnhQ/s320/dad-jack-daniels.jpg" width="193" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Cantor Arts Center</span><span style="color: #999999;"> at </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Stanford University</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Earlier in the year, my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">father</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> started having some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">health issues</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and as much as he enjoyed his independence... he accepted the reality that living in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Las Vegas</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> by himself was no longer a viable option. </span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">As a family, we decided to move him to the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bay Area</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> where he'd be surrounded by his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three boys</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">favorite daughter-in-law</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuFNnMTB5bFJux2xee7E8smRCnFzLvNLt4K5010k0JTJYFb3htAUWNbEordevcdYEj7zg0poZs40T0VsOif-keBN_NRMnABmkBFim0eZbl1OYHXTOLb0LHRdG-2B5yIzsthZpn7jsvAqUbP4cU_pEvqInh7PrXR8OsR11xI_csFukGozjWCFAZmqVKWg/s3559/dad-hukilau.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3559" data-original-width="2435" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuFNnMTB5bFJux2xee7E8smRCnFzLvNLt4K5010k0JTJYFb3htAUWNbEordevcdYEj7zg0poZs40T0VsOif-keBN_NRMnABmkBFim0eZbl1OYHXTOLb0LHRdG-2B5yIzsthZpn7jsvAqUbP4cU_pEvqInh7PrXR8OsR11xI_csFukGozjWCFAZmqVKWg/s320/dad-hukilau.jpg" width="219" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Hukilau</span><span style="color: #999999;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">SJ Japantown</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">It was nice seeing him on a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">regular basis</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and having the opportunity to help him after a lifetime of him always being there for us. Each of his children are very different, so when he hung out with us individually, he experienced different things.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDUKvu4Vq_5IwB8pIkN4PZ4cxrQNgss8rBx5JHnVRt4m6lIlQvl9179fG0JOcdbZnqhVeUgcojuCydY4lUVuLG7RKGLCZy9Zv9i19p8YW3Ix1pjobaEUgKhAWj6mlE-ThZqfcW_CbptqiYLbff3Sg2cjuW3W2WRzE97bn_rMd8MvGLXvT0DIisEyS3Rs/s4032/dad-roses.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDUKvu4Vq_5IwB8pIkN4PZ4cxrQNgss8rBx5JHnVRt4m6lIlQvl9179fG0JOcdbZnqhVeUgcojuCydY4lUVuLG7RKGLCZy9Zv9i19p8YW3Ix1pjobaEUgKhAWj6mlE-ThZqfcW_CbptqiYLbff3Sg2cjuW3W2WRzE97bn_rMd8MvGLXvT0DIisEyS3Rs/s320/dad-roses.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Marion Panaretos Rose Garden</span><span style="color: #999999;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">San Mateo</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">My thing was getting him out of the house and taking him on </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">short expeditions</span><span style="color: #999999;">. We'd often walk around </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">San Jose's Japantown</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and grab lunch or check out a local park, take a stroll, and smell the flowers. He also enjoyed sitting down at </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Barnes and Noble</span><span style="color: #999999;"> with a copy of </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Calder Walden's</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: red;"><a href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Spies/Calder-Walton/9781668000694" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><i>Spies</i></span></a> </span></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">in front of him.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpz7s77HLbY2ZIHSkcjOW2viZHstzM5Sbtc_-zatON08_l10OZAtSfGPLp04CzHiT0YU1dFVppPnF38bbsxLsC0mgBU0HfgRd1C9fFyLrbE1LxBBad33wrKzAxP3Wvzs31z_BzLf_iRC6WBjyYvSkN7RTe_SR61XfuAr8zu-FWqQhE3vFRYXPbKjqEfA/s4032/dad-friends.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2209" data-original-width="4032" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGpz7s77HLbY2ZIHSkcjOW2viZHstzM5Sbtc_-zatON08_l10OZAtSfGPLp04CzHiT0YU1dFVppPnF38bbsxLsC0mgBU0HfgRd1C9fFyLrbE1LxBBad33wrKzAxP3Wvzs31z_BzLf_iRC6WBjyYvSkN7RTe_SR61XfuAr8zu-FWqQhE3vFRYXPbKjqEfA/s320/dad-friends.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Marvel Cake</span><span style="color: #999999;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Campbell</span></i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">About a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">month</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> ago, his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">health</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> started to decline... and the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">field trips</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> evolved into </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">short drives</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Two weekends ago</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... we hopped in my car and drove over to my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">best friend's house</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. She has been taking care of her mom and hadn't had the chance to see my father in a few weeks, so we visited her. Sadly, it was his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">final field trip</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Papa Fuji</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">passed away</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> last </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Sunday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Although my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">siblings</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and I are sad to see him go, we are happy that he's finally </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">reunited</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mama Fuji</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Rest in peace</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dad</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. You deserve it.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Saturday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-89948641941708268202023-09-07T15:00:00.151-07:002023-09-07T15:00:00.137-07:00Flea Market Finds #159: Vintage, Junk Wax, and a Cool Mug<div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Hello there. Sorry I haven't been very present in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card blogosphere</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> the past few weeks. <i>Life happens.</i></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'll spare the explanations and excuses. Most of you who check out this blog know the deal. Let's get to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collectible</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> stuff.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">This past weekend, I hit up the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">De Anza Flea Market</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I planned this trip out earlier in the week and set aside a few hours in my schedule.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">In recent trips, this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">flea market</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> hasn't been that good. Although it reopened after the lockdown over a year ago... it has struggled to lure both </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">vendors</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">visitors</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... and seemed to be clinging to life. I'm happy to report aisles were filled with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collectibles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and people </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">treasure hunting</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Made a purchase within a few minutes into the walk and it involved one of my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">favorite things</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collect</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">...</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Purchase #1</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Vintage Cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">$5</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">An older gentleman I hadn't seen before had a bunch of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">unopened wax boxes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">early</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">90's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The only thing I was remotely interested in was a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1990 Pro Set PGA Tour</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Next to them were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three monster boxes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">dollar packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. One of these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">boxes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> had a bunch of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cheap</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pre-priced vintage</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">top loaders</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I ended up pulling out </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77v1UwAZhl6KaG_daAL0ge0rr0uDLPUEE9pHRgYorS_xbCU9SBmSmKdP-AWF8_v8bxuSq0Gs6_5JOgTWZF1mmHza71YAHDMS4lVXIlWBqxLjnqI5VBwXrVuMjEF8Ol7sG8dTGdljbQ_psKvi0TiYfkYeJHC8MsTNWh1NHCw112osUXGxRwZqW_ZiLNGk/s1075/fmf-2023-64t-manny-mota.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1075" data-original-width="790" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77v1UwAZhl6KaG_daAL0ge0rr0uDLPUEE9pHRgYorS_xbCU9SBmSmKdP-AWF8_v8bxuSq0Gs6_5JOgTWZF1mmHza71YAHDMS4lVXIlWBqxLjnqI5VBwXrVuMjEF8Ol7sG8dTGdljbQ_psKvi0TiYfkYeJHC8MsTNWh1NHCw112osUXGxRwZqW_ZiLNGk/w147-h200/fmf-2023-64t-manny-mota.jpg" width="147" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45PGw1fupFKjuv38NoxhCS099zf0XCyZwfQOFoFp_XB588hB54NqT51_EHgWYahaLKvjOD789Gm6wpj1QCHZiFoDyrhQaCwAn3jJ4TD1QFfpRk_goh23XaIbcyB_dfoUoOhtwC_76l0uCocSOJTTynKIkLwADQRlnjObFWM4DLaHt4K7n5W171gV-cfQ/s1075/fmf-2023-64t-manny-mota2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="1075" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45PGw1fupFKjuv38NoxhCS099zf0XCyZwfQOFoFp_XB588hB54NqT51_EHgWYahaLKvjOD789Gm6wpj1QCHZiFoDyrhQaCwAn3jJ4TD1QFfpRk_goh23XaIbcyB_dfoUoOhtwC_76l0uCocSOJTTynKIkLwADQRlnjObFWM4DLaHt4K7n5W171gV-cfQ/w200-h144/fmf-2023-64t-manny-mota2.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1964 Topps #246</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I've always pictured </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mota</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> as a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Dodger.</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> This </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> will be a healthy reminder that he was a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Pirate</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGenO6QD5kKoBSiJXQji-_vByhZ38IkhFr2w3yizMnBk10OMft_zgY1QNm6abWvoHsgrZINI3KqijlbNhW3T0B53FJNScXcQ3IFTbfpF-GB1g5A9RM8purwvgpCQitBJodMpvlPeKVWrlcB6w6-ZVtFW7BuLfXLlbvqk-9s4le530p0aDs74vhkmJCaw/s1150/fmf-2023-56t-packers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1150" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGenO6QD5kKoBSiJXQji-_vByhZ38IkhFr2w3yizMnBk10OMft_zgY1QNm6abWvoHsgrZINI3KqijlbNhW3T0B53FJNScXcQ3IFTbfpF-GB1g5A9RM8purwvgpCQitBJodMpvlPeKVWrlcB6w6-ZVtFW7BuLfXLlbvqk-9s4le530p0aDs74vhkmJCaw/w320-h226/fmf-2023-56t-packers.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1956 Topps #7</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I bought this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> thinking </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">#15</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in the front row was </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bart Starr</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. It's not. It's </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Paul Held</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Starr</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was drafted in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1956</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but didn't show up on a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> until the following season. There are at least </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two hall of famers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> featured on this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> though: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Jim Ringo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bobby Dillon</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Possibly more.</span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_vW7-1zP2bAl7o6NCJPXTVgzP1n_rVJBGkaYadDECJCLvjt-Cr8wZZjm4fE5-KuGBEKdGVdMNhGUzbbm66S9_1DPnbrpDLtqtwXdns7uM802K9bk17pmMdEGQPAONjlxuwiuO-bngXZ4U6tBTILgs8b4eXFE9zTKGmbsE7i-3wCHk80jjxSFP0N6TVI/s1150/fmf-2023-56t-packers2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="815" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_vW7-1zP2bAl7o6NCJPXTVgzP1n_rVJBGkaYadDECJCLvjt-Cr8wZZjm4fE5-KuGBEKdGVdMNhGUzbbm66S9_1DPnbrpDLtqtwXdns7uM802K9bk17pmMdEGQPAONjlxuwiuO-bngXZ4U6tBTILgs8b4eXFE9zTKGmbsE7i-3wCHk80jjxSFP0N6TVI/w227-h320/fmf-2023-56t-packers2.jpg" width="227" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">back</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> features </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two more hall of famers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> names: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Don Hutson</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Tony Canadeo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Purchase #2</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">San Francisco Postcards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">$5</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Two rows over, there was a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">family</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with a bunch of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">garage sale stuff</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. The father had a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">old stereoscope photos</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">postcards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. There were hundreds of them related to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">San Francisco</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but I narrowed my stack down to these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">five</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoz1Kharr_6XOfVqzvPGDXOtaXfi_eIlffdLRHdvDgkZmWWG7y4bi9wiSahAG8GX4YKyt-dDs762wdaJPHvHkaICsyKuBFhBVbXaKqsLHww2chzX4mubH9g0txZ3xwyP6LTArUj-FnD7hFZlPSIkkFCSJdHtbB6_gm5yBMHVTB0tAAJZ9v4Do2pJC21QA/s1675/fmf-2023-postcards-golden-gate1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1675" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoz1Kharr_6XOfVqzvPGDXOtaXfi_eIlffdLRHdvDgkZmWWG7y4bi9wiSahAG8GX4YKyt-dDs762wdaJPHvHkaICsyKuBFhBVbXaKqsLHww2chzX4mubH9g0txZ3xwyP6LTArUj-FnD7hFZlPSIkkFCSJdHtbB6_gm5yBMHVTB0tAAJZ9v4Do2pJC21QA/w200-h129/fmf-2023-postcards-golden-gate1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5lX6S-0EnCnyKz5Zp2tx9osDiPBAi1d8F3d1xRlgNwRu4XL7A03AqkjkwIPc19pQb0odpazmbdZ2f2E4ygNefkQi9uwcFFqSS4CZ5y9jyeJvhp1rnsd3pSz5Qimb4JZfdnAWvToNCNSnFos5KMgSLrdH2iu3ItWjjK8QaEg3D4Lr-JgkAYciNnoDMKA/s1675/fmf-2023-postcards-golden-gate1b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="1675" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5lX6S-0EnCnyKz5Zp2tx9osDiPBAi1d8F3d1xRlgNwRu4XL7A03AqkjkwIPc19pQb0odpazmbdZ2f2E4ygNefkQi9uwcFFqSS4CZ5y9jyeJvhp1rnsd3pSz5Qimb4JZfdnAWvToNCNSnFos5KMgSLrdH2iu3ItWjjK8QaEg3D4Lr-JgkAYciNnoDMKA/w200-h129/fmf-2023-postcards-golden-gate1b.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrI--IfIV6Xoj5oIu5Cu5WM5BQ7JrocoEdD80LbV286c0kcAhd5pvvV0wiX7seCAUJinaDuMm4el0qoDxJSL5Ln-E1qhRxpbzvnPiQArsc_h3ZLFk1jLeX15XwbMm27FfuMiq8hAh7qm6htueGpGhfU0ormYUxak7c-PKwXFkXXW08D_krZ9yXQF9RpY/s1650/fmf-2023-postcards-golden-gate3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1650" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrI--IfIV6Xoj5oIu5Cu5WM5BQ7JrocoEdD80LbV286c0kcAhd5pvvV0wiX7seCAUJinaDuMm4el0qoDxJSL5Ln-E1qhRxpbzvnPiQArsc_h3ZLFk1jLeX15XwbMm27FfuMiq8hAh7qm6htueGpGhfU0ormYUxak7c-PKwXFkXXW08D_krZ9yXQF9RpY/s320/fmf-2023-postcards-golden-gate3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br style="text-align: left;" /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcm9-EW2-MG5PUtr_p6J-aDDWiS91v-EWp8itt-aGdGW2C5GMRf52qIq6I5aLLQMGPI4uTjuVHk4METoMduTIuc5asbW0k4qJUGUytubljXWH00TLRmm4SD5UIFPzm4zZyHG_XoyG1OeLic3j6VmW8WlZgvp9maWvkYB3hWE9y8DSbynid5YI0CcDyXb0/s1675/fmf-2023-postcards-golden-gate2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1675" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcm9-EW2-MG5PUtr_p6J-aDDWiS91v-EWp8itt-aGdGW2C5GMRf52qIq6I5aLLQMGPI4uTjuVHk4METoMduTIuc5asbW0k4qJUGUytubljXWH00TLRmm4SD5UIFPzm4zZyHG_XoyG1OeLic3j6VmW8WlZgvp9maWvkYB3hWE9y8DSbynid5YI0CcDyXb0/w200-h128/fmf-2023-postcards-golden-gate2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMTePK9C-Afe0HH83l0TEfliib3KXxhnfTOik156hGRmFbOQAFUaIJX5da5M0XzjoCVNiVLSISUIXJxp3pmIpAQpb4m5WJOuZ-hQkPR8WiI6x-3ooVJe2I4z3C1KpniHVubXKuJrrin6jSZFcWE1tAKyGI-bkhz7V6eHXgj07CSLL-VjI2tCHk4goHoA/s1675/fmf-2023-postcards-golden-gate2b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="1675" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMTePK9C-Afe0HH83l0TEfliib3KXxhnfTOik156hGRmFbOQAFUaIJX5da5M0XzjoCVNiVLSISUIXJxp3pmIpAQpb4m5WJOuZ-hQkPR8WiI6x-3ooVJe2I4z3C1KpniHVubXKuJrrin6jSZFcWE1tAKyGI-bkhz7V6eHXgj07CSLL-VjI2tCHk4goHoA/w200-h129/fmf-2023-postcards-golden-gate2b.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvR2HxDxXg7llcM3If0d5VUAF3ar9iR2kunpI8bJ0CVD1VacNE4h7Y0AiCr5vP2uYc0Ro7yXNtX7VH_mxZrlqWkBz571W-TOwvXZM4Tio0iHIBgKgCE-VJEGurQA9ESgmQ7vB1dO1n1D7IKnLUdf47axk94d6-boN8gY3BUJ8Xogc3p3JLM3vzfXGYO4/s1650/fmf-2023-postcards-golden-gate4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1650" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvR2HxDxXg7llcM3If0d5VUAF3ar9iR2kunpI8bJ0CVD1VacNE4h7Y0AiCr5vP2uYc0Ro7yXNtX7VH_mxZrlqWkBz571W-TOwvXZM4Tio0iHIBgKgCE-VJEGurQA9ESgmQ7vB1dO1n1D7IKnLUdf47axk94d6-boN8gY3BUJ8Xogc3p3JLM3vzfXGYO4/s320/fmf-2023-postcards-golden-gate4.jpg" width="320" /></a><br style="text-align: left;" /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjO-yu4tJ2aKqEkf_B6x6yNlkSSY0Pl9T__AGvD9G37RcOZLxG8zGdr-mUNl3BgKs1vjAQ-kD-D-TiT8OhZLyztWKbQQRyOE8SA3sMZEHyjogPqoNprC5HB9kzTNdWAeCK6uepQnSakA-vZv3C56twH-YJBOCAL7Acwy5d4euKWDZUIqXn5Lbk0M32aY/s1675/fmf-2023-postcards-japanese-tea-garden1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1675" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjO-yu4tJ2aKqEkf_B6x6yNlkSSY0Pl9T__AGvD9G37RcOZLxG8zGdr-mUNl3BgKs1vjAQ-kD-D-TiT8OhZLyztWKbQQRyOE8SA3sMZEHyjogPqoNprC5HB9kzTNdWAeCK6uepQnSakA-vZv3C56twH-YJBOCAL7Acwy5d4euKWDZUIqXn5Lbk0M32aY/w200-h130/fmf-2023-postcards-japanese-tea-garden1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAu4KPFwYJJUgy7EG3HP0Jh4ecIf283SVzl8Ve86CQkLmdm6lIcxS9pp7diqVw-5c8yDPLq5e3NOQn5Z7haEHrICGpOzvL75bcvHPZmflJRgA1NEn6DRdvZcoz6GZPbwUEmP_Z5kD6wIOl8u2DebYiVzBccfvyWuIMgva3aMzrq8cA6pEGt3bkWj54bg/s1675/fmf-2023-postcards-japanese-tea-garden1b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1675" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRAu4KPFwYJJUgy7EG3HP0Jh4ecIf283SVzl8Ve86CQkLmdm6lIcxS9pp7diqVw-5c8yDPLq5e3NOQn5Z7haEHrICGpOzvL75bcvHPZmflJRgA1NEn6DRdvZcoz6GZPbwUEmP_Z5kD6wIOl8u2DebYiVzBccfvyWuIMgva3aMzrq8cA6pEGt3bkWj54bg/w200-h129/fmf-2023-postcards-japanese-tea-garden1b.jpg" width="200" /></a><br style="text-align: left;" /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I couldn't find any dates on these, but the guy said they were likely from the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">50's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> or </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">60's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... maybe even a little earlier. His </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">asking price</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was a little steep (</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$3</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">each</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">), but thankfully he accepted my </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$5</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">counteroffer</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Purchase #3</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">One Lone Curry Card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">$1</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">postcard guy's son</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> had </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">a few stacks</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (wrapped in rubber bands). I found </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... but this is the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">only one</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> he'd let me have for a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">buck</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2qeBS9a3cLet9MlNrqyKqqIChCleoqoTR7jUtBLiHfnSwNnPa74pLdVABcF2muQMMH83q7_TGDetl4QpA_afCVhCXAd9TOXYNWVkiMqHH_Mqd7vVU5HaUz7moggXiHvSxeVvmtDpXfnckStcz2gTnE5lFaD2-BrsnrUIewF5kQsPLMN7X-IRT6Sq-Nc/s1025/fmf-2023-insert-steph-curry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="730" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2qeBS9a3cLet9MlNrqyKqqIChCleoqoTR7jUtBLiHfnSwNnPa74pLdVABcF2muQMMH83q7_TGDetl4QpA_afCVhCXAd9TOXYNWVkiMqHH_Mqd7vVU5HaUz7moggXiHvSxeVvmtDpXfnckStcz2gTnE5lFaD2-BrsnrUIewF5kQsPLMN7X-IRT6Sq-Nc/s320/fmf-2023-insert-steph-curry.jpg" width="228" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>2021-22 Panini Hoops Slam #193</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Like father, like son... his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">asking prices</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> were a bit extreme. Both </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I pulled were </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Steph</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. He wanted </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$5</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for one of them and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$3</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for this one. After I was about to leave empty-handed, he told me he'd take my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">dollar</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for this one.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Purchase #4</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Pac-Man Beer Mug</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">$3</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkMW0aBdvFSRHUi-hw8LsYY4zgxsQLrPSUf9EB3qLiPxhIm-j4NRoHja4OKS_l2wHL-SC4ulZL10J8R92rnrNtHcx6It5t2qHqDRxt1HvIXoxX_dlNb5GtyhYXcyXjYLgt1AEIOepGvfFUWYmVNK6uWYUl5nax8j3mqESmMF3Yqh3NpdxIxBJfJE5VNk/s2500/fmf-2023-mug-pacman.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="1859" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkMW0aBdvFSRHUi-hw8LsYY4zgxsQLrPSUf9EB3qLiPxhIm-j4NRoHja4OKS_l2wHL-SC4ulZL10J8R92rnrNtHcx6It5t2qHqDRxt1HvIXoxX_dlNb5GtyhYXcyXjYLgt1AEIOepGvfFUWYmVNK6uWYUl5nax8j3mqESmMF3Yqh3NpdxIxBJfJE5VNk/s320/fmf-2023-mug-pacman.jpg" width="238" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I have way too many </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">mugs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> sitting around. Probably because I just can't say "no" to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cool mugs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">affordable price tags</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> at the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">flea market</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">Purchase #5</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">: </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">One Lone Junk Wax Pack</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: large;">$5</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK8CbopIZN2R9QPzY0pqVAhG3RZr3S3fcwfR52sgpJBKrifAVtFPZ8XcMTExGZle14HTFvTxbud34EB2QIN4vPEWj8OqVMEFOrVP9ScjYwQxLPkUjdObbE48iZxbbVEdWK5V4h6o8xBCQmD3s1VPV6zv-3YwCQPxCop1KyoD3OfmDbXFKNL7mLbIIkmI/s3450/fmf-2023-rackpack-89d-griffey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="3450" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigK8CbopIZN2R9QPzY0pqVAhG3RZr3S3fcwfR52sgpJBKrifAVtFPZ8XcMTExGZle14HTFvTxbud34EB2QIN4vPEWj8OqVMEFOrVP9ScjYwQxLPkUjdObbE48iZxbbVEdWK5V4h6o8xBCQmD3s1VPV6zv-3YwCQPxCop1KyoD3OfmDbXFKNL7mLbIIkmI/w491-h156/fmf-2023-rackpack-89d-griffey.jpg" width="491" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: medium;"><b><i>1989 Donruss Value Pack</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">As I was walking down the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">last two rows</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... there was a guy with some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">clothes</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">books</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cd's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> laid out in rows on the ground. I strolled down the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cd</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> aisle and saw a box with some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">late </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">80's</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> rack packs</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. All of them had at least </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">one star</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> showing. There were </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that stood out. One was a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1990 Fleer</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Gwynn</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on top. Another was a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1989 Topps</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Nolan Ryan</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> showing. However the guy wouldn't budge off from his </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$5</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">per pack asking price</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">, so I put both of those back and took home </span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">The Kid</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">That'll wrap up my recent trip to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">flea market</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. There were actually </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two more purchases</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">succulent</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pot</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">) made on this trip, but I gave them to my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">friend's mom</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> before writing this post. Sorry about that </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">succulent fans</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Thank you</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for those who have stuck around and continue to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">support the blog</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... even though </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">posts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> are few and far between. I actually have plenty to write about... including a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pair </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">of recent </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">care packages</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... it's just a matter of finding time in my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hectic schedule</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. In fact... if it weren't for the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">extra day off</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> this week... this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">post </span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">would have been written and published much, much later.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Okay... no more moaning and groaning. Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Thursday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-68750320565531985312023-08-23T15:00:00.375-07:002023-08-23T15:00:00.151-07:00They're Just Babies, Man<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7VgS3AAyM5-f-bzRtk8X8eHvC5XPMLEZQCZUShEHxtQ1T-RV1q4I5OlWRn4UcvRUo4M0q403-v_de00J2oaezvjlwG4rIKgDpK6Y5Sfa0DqpfgZJx_F4poyHqLgBnCLaGpa2r89D4j0xqoA_DlJgIn7WTyANUCB1DMpLgBpzLEC3Ldyt8uLx5HxPdR4/s1600/sixers-yearbook-kobe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1217" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7VgS3AAyM5-f-bzRtk8X8eHvC5XPMLEZQCZUShEHxtQ1T-RV1q4I5OlWRn4UcvRUo4M0q403-v_de00J2oaezvjlwG4rIKgDpK6Y5Sfa0DqpfgZJx_F4poyHqLgBnCLaGpa2r89D4j0xqoA_DlJgIn7WTyANUCB1DMpLgBpzLEC3Ldyt8uLx5HxPdR4/s320/sixers-yearbook-kobe.jpg" width="243" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">When I'm working in the office... </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">sorting</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">scanning cards</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">... I like to have something playing in the background. Sometimes it's </span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Bob's Burgers</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">reruns</span><span style="color: #999999;">. Other times it's music. Just depends on my mood.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">One day back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">January</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> or </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">February</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... I was listening to videos on </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">YouTube</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> discussing </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kobe Bryant's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">legacy</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I honestly never get tired of watching his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">highlights</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and listening people talk about his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">determination</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">passion</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for the sport of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">basketball</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHAEM_xQoryCeAu8_FHaBvfvhyBRLValymdqwnei2wRWFbb4alyShkv97hnBMQI0Xa-ZX36-caiwrxGlP4rkNCBBdednHhGkK2ajg__ffdBKSDT9DN1M9CF54ADHJDYtvj3qLwtHiXfJxZLFZb-sb3EjmuqjwavvSw8lL7nBmZfTBeNijzzv42dVTMBg/s1600/sixers-yearbook-cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1224" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHAEM_xQoryCeAu8_FHaBvfvhyBRLValymdqwnei2wRWFbb4alyShkv97hnBMQI0Xa-ZX36-caiwrxGlP4rkNCBBdednHhGkK2ajg__ffdBKSDT9DN1M9CF54ADHJDYtvj3qLwtHiXfJxZLFZb-sb3EjmuqjwavvSw8lL7nBmZfTBeNijzzv42dVTMBg/s320/sixers-yearbook-cover.jpg" width="245" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">On one of these videos, a </span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">1978-79 Philadelphia 76ers Pictorial Yearbook</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> was mentioned... that pictured </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Joseph</span><span style="color: #999999;"> "</span><i><span style="color: #ffa400;">Jellybean</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">" </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">Bryant</span><span style="color: #999999;"> and his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">family</span><span style="color: #999999;">:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJvauL-LI-hRA3iIOsn6bE3nvmD_tysSkdpnbMgvBdnRziiOm8woG6Z2KO6Z1eP02G79D80tIjSmczmzryfRcHEB14I2LPs_B84y6SQmyJT3XQl7p0CQrnpBTXuokOyGTCAL7o07zC2S9WC6lJFY-nneZYkybsu4Au7Z_Ri2ghkY4M9mawLVtmnywnqw/s720/sixers-yearbook-kobe2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="593" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJvauL-LI-hRA3iIOsn6bE3nvmD_tysSkdpnbMgvBdnRziiOm8woG6Z2KO6Z1eP02G79D80tIjSmczmzryfRcHEB14I2LPs_B84y6SQmyJT3XQl7p0CQrnpBTXuokOyGTCAL7o07zC2S9WC6lJFY-nneZYkybsu4Au7Z_Ri2ghkY4M9mawLVtmnywnqw/s320/sixers-yearbook-kobe2.jpg" width="264" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Sitting in his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">father's lap</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">very young</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kobe</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> "</span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><i>Bean</i></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">" </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bryant</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Since he was born in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">August</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1978</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, he can't be more than </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">a few months old</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Now I'm not normally into collecting images of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">babies</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, but I thought this was a</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> pretty cool collectible</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> for my </span><a href="https://fujiapple.weebly.com/los-angeles-lakers-pc.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Kobe Bryant PC</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I immediately headed over to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">eBay</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and added it to my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">daily searches</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Fast forward to this summer and a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">BIN</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> listing popped up for </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$10</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> (+ </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$5</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">shipping</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> & </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">94ยข</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">tax</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">). A few clicks of the mouse and a week of waiting to see if the picture actually existed... and voila it arrived.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">In addition to the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bryant</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">family photo</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, there was </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">another future </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">NBA</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> player</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> pictured as a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">baby</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrtPu9o4BJiIHD1X6GXOszTPKH2dMOBynMYxuV2uEN5Cn7QWZu1OuCUv0p5HyFvmHUJAERQ_7Y8X2qK5PFZp2LIzQz6z3C3d4Uk7PBJrmXxb9mPwfqoMUgh4-a2XQM5SjRecK4ZKYFRkZGOseiUouuJYNN46Kv4-1DN9SCTGaZEFPzaOOIlHJRcBhZA8/s595/sixers-yearbook-bibby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="595" data-original-width="591" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrtPu9o4BJiIHD1X6GXOszTPKH2dMOBynMYxuV2uEN5Cn7QWZu1OuCUv0p5HyFvmHUJAERQ_7Y8X2qK5PFZp2LIzQz6z3C3d4Uk7PBJrmXxb9mPwfqoMUgh4-a2XQM5SjRecK4ZKYFRkZGOseiUouuJYNN46Kv4-1DN9SCTGaZEFPzaOOIlHJRcBhZA8/s320/sixers-yearbook-bibby.jpg" width="318" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><i><span style="color: #999999;">Anyone recognize the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">infant </span><span style="color: #999999;">sitting in his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">mom's lap</span><span style="color: #999999;">?</span></i></span><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Brownie points if you guessed this guy:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiKUQkVKWjifCCUq5ORfXoSMj2-SlD8FIR5j7nKMG-GCcd5h4JvT9dCoz486IWUKuymjTkmZnRE4ONj7l4bOtVTtt5bXSLvHv_Z2HohRe1j1SOULbk4cpPCX4CFWi80F_hiYwX4f8QaZwWcX0-M4h30r57_1Jafn7MxRbNniRczVzBWSWzf0dasInfNk/s1025/rc-98t-mike-bibby.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="726" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiKUQkVKWjifCCUq5ORfXoSMj2-SlD8FIR5j7nKMG-GCcd5h4JvT9dCoz486IWUKuymjTkmZnRE4ONj7l4bOtVTtt5bXSLvHv_Z2HohRe1j1SOULbk4cpPCX4CFWi80F_hiYwX4f8QaZwWcX0-M4h30r57_1Jafn7MxRbNniRczVzBWSWzf0dasInfNk/s320/rc-98t-mike-bibby.jpg" width="227" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1998-99 Topps #196</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mike's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">father</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Henry Bibby</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Joe Bryant's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">teammate</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Philadelphia</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">three seasons</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1976-77</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1978-79</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. They played together again in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">San Diego</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> during the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">1980-81</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">season</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">And for those who care... here's the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">back cover</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">yearbook</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaJPwsPp5b0yH_1-ITNBajVYEIZqE08iqfzICLENTu-ObIUGN5xx6MNUE4nKvFIaN5u0FeXnpIhoRZbUW9P0Qhse28jrAisRoAm6v70wN_BevguOT64TZ_KMFwu1_m-8OvBLSCBZfNC0LewJdrWQK8cvBFasU_h4unxIQWFv7MMwXqSVpaIA1g1u3p3I/s1600/sixers-yearbook-back-cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="1600" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEaJPwsPp5b0yH_1-ITNBajVYEIZqE08iqfzICLENTu-ObIUGN5xx6MNUE4nKvFIaN5u0FeXnpIhoRZbUW9P0Qhse28jrAisRoAm6v70wN_BevguOT64TZ_KMFwu1_m-8OvBLSCBZfNC0LewJdrWQK8cvBFasU_h4unxIQWFv7MMwXqSVpaIA1g1u3p3I/s320/sixers-yearbook-back-cover.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bibby</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Bryant's 76ers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> reached the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Eastern Conference Semifinals</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that season... which isn't too surprising considering they had guys like </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Julius Erving</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Doug Collins</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Maurice Cheeks</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Darryl Dawkins</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> on the court with them.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Since </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">basketball posts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> don't garner a lot of attention, I figured I'd show off a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">really cool card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> I pulled from a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pack</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> right around the time I purchased the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">yearbook</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoYArrlcf-MV271FCt74bv4zkqor8cLZNZx47XoUtWFBLRoSOTUen9WUyZg-cOgFoZ_djNJUaWYBC3KUbr8GEJOTkF939z7bxvRLHcQWCDTZtvCRWyDGFr78JE85klnFuvTiGKDPDmNCXpgUvlAjLWt5mXwXEqM8oHTrqiTfrUliUUgF6a0i3yTbvzjI/s1025/prizm-monopoly-lillard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="743" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoYArrlcf-MV271FCt74bv4zkqor8cLZNZx47XoUtWFBLRoSOTUen9WUyZg-cOgFoZ_djNJUaWYBC3KUbr8GEJOTkF939z7bxvRLHcQWCDTZtvCRWyDGFr78JE85klnFuvTiGKDPDmNCXpgUvlAjLWt5mXwXEqM8oHTrqiTfrUliUUgF6a0i3yTbvzjI/w145-h200/prizm-monopoly-lillard.jpg" width="145" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUldMQtsmOO6uJV5fRptwh2aQeeOFQ3tBPFpBtK-addfMCc6PpqzhPsd4vFZksl-lljC-9f_B7JxtdtIzxoU7sW_dZYiBbW03_TBtxo2yEsCoqwdXPE804X-njJHQiXdcWwieBn_5fqyM282llc3xPDRk2f17Pwp0iqcGKfer7uqXbqjf8wZQQfmlLGY/s1025/prizm-monopoly-lillard2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="728" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUldMQtsmOO6uJV5fRptwh2aQeeOFQ3tBPFpBtK-addfMCc6PpqzhPsd4vFZksl-lljC-9f_B7JxtdtIzxoU7sW_dZYiBbW03_TBtxo2yEsCoqwdXPE804X-njJHQiXdcWwieBn_5fqyM282llc3xPDRk2f17Pwp0iqcGKfer7uqXbqjf8wZQQfmlLGY/w142-h200/prizm-monopoly-lillard2.jpg" width="142" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2022-23 Prizm Monopoly Black Gold #73 (#'d 4/5)</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I can't remember the last time I received a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">trading cards</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> as an "</span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">end of the year</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">" </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">present</span><span style="color: #999999;">, but one of my </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">7th</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">graders</span><span style="color: #999999;"> hooked me up with this:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihr6eJwGyksvGxcdPU3CGx_DGsKJ3kUe67UfyyKNQZBCpuBJXyUSVx-_XM6tSAa5WnE2JkZY3bvj2JRnvQsSu15MMo00IvocCAaVahIV4UIovjPXcDkuftUS4D2KSLlZ3xnjTTcNZnlMYfLGNMvpGsEvONKhK3tFEw5pqdOQT24l7dHLfeUEC-d4wJiWw/s2100/box-monopoly-prizm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1495" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihr6eJwGyksvGxcdPU3CGx_DGsKJ3kUe67UfyyKNQZBCpuBJXyUSVx-_XM6tSAa5WnE2JkZY3bvj2JRnvQsSu15MMo00IvocCAaVahIV4UIovjPXcDkuftUS4D2KSLlZ3xnjTTcNZnlMYfLGNMvpGsEvONKhK3tFEw5pqdOQT24l7dHLfeUEC-d4wJiWw/s320/box-monopoly-prizm.jpg" width="228" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">It's a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">basketball cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that doubles as </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">playing cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Monopoly Prizm</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">board game</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. Normally this isn't something I'd go gaga over, but my buddy offered me a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">stack</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">singles</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">$5</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... which led me to this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">set build</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pOm-EmynJZZRWicwVr6MGRWHKyfu8MRwM9wiF3xCwmhm30hFkohnwyZyGxe0XHuswCHudnebdIbjW5ZNvEbmlTUYjwBfuCodYszoUB6fZ9edaJ_NHuDWAjXCHbnlf4amUCtgbR7YpfOKY2UPHH0FGhOmvcg-5EURRofbkggEfCn9S0FLOziUvAZuxFQ/s943/prizm-monopoly.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="943" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pOm-EmynJZZRWicwVr6MGRWHKyfu8MRwM9wiF3xCwmhm30hFkohnwyZyGxe0XHuswCHudnebdIbjW5ZNvEbmlTUYjwBfuCodYszoUB6fZ9edaJ_NHuDWAjXCHbnlf4amUCtgbR7YpfOKY2UPHH0FGhOmvcg-5EURRofbkggEfCn9S0FLOziUvAZuxFQ/s320/prizm-monopoly.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">After placing a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Sportlots</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">order</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to fill in most of the blanks, I'm down to needing only these </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">two cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to complete the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">base</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Prizm Skills</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">insert set</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Now I should clarify things for anyone </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">new</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">blog</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. I was a big </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Los Angeles Lakers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">fan</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> for most of my life, but after they joined other franchises in building "</span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">super teams</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">" back in the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">late</span><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">2000's</span><span style="color: #999999;">, my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">interest</span><span style="color: #999999;"> in them and the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">sport</span><span style="color: #999999;"> has </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">waned</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">That being said... I still love </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collecting</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Lakers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Golden State Warriors</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Reader X</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">primary source</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of their </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> these days.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Here are some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">basketball card highlights</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from his two most recent </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">care packages</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHQZfhOPDCeQt0NfTRv1XFWxXEyoe_4pOIUD83tIc4EjsQ8hweU1PUnhGEebr2mUtsJZ6iFtENo8GeNWAUEub021ejZuMHfmww3tO2Z078MzMvpFxm8oM-UOaiuHOODPdOvmvxQ19TCfkbteDB_18xf7kuarCSbDsnNJWzE_Lt5ut1_5hBnNZiVezrwg/s1025/reader-x-kobe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1025" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLHQZfhOPDCeQt0NfTRv1XFWxXEyoe_4pOIUD83tIc4EjsQ8hweU1PUnhGEebr2mUtsJZ6iFtENo8GeNWAUEub021ejZuMHfmww3tO2Z078MzMvpFxm8oM-UOaiuHOODPdOvmvxQ19TCfkbteDB_18xf7kuarCSbDsnNJWzE_Lt5ut1_5hBnNZiVezrwg/s320/reader-x-kobe.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1997-98 Collector's Choice #64</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Holy moly... this </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> is awesome. I wonder if </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kobe</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> made this shot... or if </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Marcus Camby</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> ended up blocking it. In the spirit of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kobe's</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">birthday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, I'm gonna choose to believe he made it.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Next up are a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pair</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">shiny</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Prizms</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVIcIAnQuyTICURAo0jeh7hiIjuLKT31bvLlgfSLtarZ8FDaiWDd8TqjipM3uexL5RoHIkU7QhAZPPlPiB4iT-BEB5y6Tiq_DfYTJlB508XJq7649P7PxqIvn0w0uS1rgE0PGOQkF0evd4h5weuw0pXJnLle8QJAE-5FaImPkXD0aq6SKjaQsAbCFwC4/s1025/readerx-2023-magic-johnson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="736" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVIcIAnQuyTICURAo0jeh7hiIjuLKT31bvLlgfSLtarZ8FDaiWDd8TqjipM3uexL5RoHIkU7QhAZPPlPiB4iT-BEB5y6Tiq_DfYTJlB508XJq7649P7PxqIvn0w0uS1rgE0PGOQkF0evd4h5weuw0pXJnLle8QJAE-5FaImPkXD0aq6SKjaQsAbCFwC4/w144-h200/readerx-2023-magic-johnson.jpg" width="144" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoMvu1qhIQsFErdNoruwbuVm-etsvswE8EBXTCcqaMyFaaTXvRo8agiGctB2UNJ7DwS7azO2mIBTZFb3yn6P2uqKtjEzHK-ngpRr9zg6ggHphvsqBIBkcfY1NRz_Sr2Iu78ezzsmVdWjJNKamDDBFO4Ox2pBQizjCKQB_DiSvqDJLxVIl6r1IIj33fRk/s1025/readerx-2023-curry.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="736" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKoMvu1qhIQsFErdNoruwbuVm-etsvswE8EBXTCcqaMyFaaTXvRo8agiGctB2UNJ7DwS7azO2mIBTZFb3yn6P2uqKtjEzHK-ngpRr9zg6ggHphvsqBIBkcfY1NRz_Sr2Iu78ezzsmVdWjJNKamDDBFO4Ox2pBQizjCKQB_DiSvqDJLxVIl6r1IIj33fRk/w144-h200/readerx-2023-curry.jpg" width="144" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2022-23 Prizm Silver #276</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2021-22 Prizm Red, White, & Blue #154</i></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I will gladly inherit any unwanted </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Prizm</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mosaic</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">parallels</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> from any sport. They are absolutely </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">gorgeous</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">And I'll wrap things ups with some </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">9</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">-</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pocket pages</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Lebron James</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Steph Curry</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and other big named </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Lakers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Warriors</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApD9it2m0Zsb4096pRS4Lakx1tYrlBMtHtWgDe6wFbtKIEWQIf1M6d0sM9xS42E_Ptv00N5jj9luXLtsoxkppraLXsbXiSgRgY3uv7tPQ5JcCLvi4qTjKfQUOgfyKHfzBi2iv8buKuhXbNYJegSzLICZZNw1YW-AFP1aSpDBgLkkc2iZ0z25D2J3NJfY/s1675/readerx-2023-lakers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1675" data-original-width="1201" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApD9it2m0Zsb4096pRS4Lakx1tYrlBMtHtWgDe6wFbtKIEWQIf1M6d0sM9xS42E_Ptv00N5jj9luXLtsoxkppraLXsbXiSgRgY3uv7tPQ5JcCLvi4qTjKfQUOgfyKHfzBi2iv8buKuhXbNYJegSzLICZZNw1YW-AFP1aSpDBgLkkc2iZ0z25D2J3NJfY/w286-h400/readerx-2023-lakers.jpg" width="286" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1HhmOucFExM5t-DIE5Pf0URR1zA9uQ467xU9mHTI1z0tQd8_l46UFKXmebIZRhv4OhcU7dGckplp-su8KlVhpToztalGgjqfuzCLcLGXyY8ezZnIOJygjRoHDDsAIILLNjNnGVIRWCdZAPQBxNF9pfxsv2St4eA_ZGHx5BX8XM2MlJX7af2LRKAHbAk/s1675/readerx-2023-curry2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1675" data-original-width="1208" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1HhmOucFExM5t-DIE5Pf0URR1zA9uQ467xU9mHTI1z0tQd8_l46UFKXmebIZRhv4OhcU7dGckplp-su8KlVhpToztalGgjqfuzCLcLGXyY8ezZnIOJygjRoHDDsAIILLNjNnGVIRWCdZAPQBxNF9pfxsv2St4eA_ZGHx5BX8XM2MlJX7af2LRKAHbAk/w289-h400/readerx-2023-curry2.jpg" width="289" /></span></a></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">And I'll round things out with the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">musical</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">inspiration</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">title of this post</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xAkb43tr4SM" width="320" youtube-src-id="xAkb43tr4SM"></iframe></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Quicksand;">Thank you</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">TN</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">box</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Prizm</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. And </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">thank you</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Reader X</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> for the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">stacks</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> of </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Warriors</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Lakers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">cards</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Wednesday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4199201726099157936.post-64078718263012755142023-08-19T15:00:00.237-07:002023-08-19T15:00:00.133-07:00Same Family, Different Spelling<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">Seventy-two years ago</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">... </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Eddie Gaedel</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> made </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">MLB</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> history</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSMvmdzyB5mpLdW3icN3ZrvHStKDgCU3v_1meugSnSkS_Az1mv10whgiyAWQQvwx9-r0BlW9wlnU3GfB9rQdjc4VwWF1FXWGDTzEU2Jb99ZoaEwjqZRFhmfZX6sq5lE7ZUr9K-XXTRpD4RbhxA9ukdYHcAryf-eAx2dJD8nrXYy9HWGkDWFPCXHpix4g/s635/gaedel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSMvmdzyB5mpLdW3icN3ZrvHStKDgCU3v_1meugSnSkS_Az1mv10whgiyAWQQvwx9-r0BlW9wlnU3GfB9rQdjc4VwWF1FXWGDTzEU2Jb99ZoaEwjqZRFhmfZX6sq5lE7ZUr9K-XXTRpD4RbhxA9ukdYHcAryf-eAx2dJD8nrXYy9HWGkDWFPCXHpix4g/s320/gaedel.jpg" width="227" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>1961 Nu-Cards Baseball Scoops #426</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">I'm sure many of you are familiar with </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Mr. Gaedel</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">pinch hitting appearance</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> with the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">St. Louis Browns</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> that made him the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">shortest person</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to ever appear in a </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Major League</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">game</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">If not, you can read about it on the </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">National Baseball Hall of Fame</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">website</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;">. Just click </span><a href="https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/inside-pitch/bill-veeck-eddie-gaedel-the-birth-of-a-legend" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Today's post is about his much </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"><i>lesser known</i></span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">grandnephew</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhtjyzb4IeF_e8hdeZu_O4oRboI_AGXHE1uf869_-QBvZ266HYflTGbjCi_rWIKX3wnCKhS5wEK4I7DiHFkNs4PmsQV-PYSJvcAI6x-kjqrpJgVl4plV280F_yTxv2TLDnhLmuV7S_qsN55qkPcSGyX0E2JA3fqVtUFVVyFqfikp1GtXuXHeqpfmEN20/s1025/gaedele1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhtjyzb4IeF_e8hdeZu_O4oRboI_AGXHE1uf869_-QBvZ266HYflTGbjCi_rWIKX3wnCKhS5wEK4I7DiHFkNs4PmsQV-PYSJvcAI6x-kjqrpJgVl4plV280F_yTxv2TLDnhLmuV7S_qsN55qkPcSGyX0E2JA3fqVtUFVVyFqfikp1GtXuXHeqpfmEN20/s320/gaedele1.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;"><b><i>2011 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Franchise Futures Signatures #76 </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Back in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">April</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Jeff</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> over at </span><a href="https://waxpackwonders.blogspot.com/2023/04/more-lesser-knowns.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Wax Pack Wonders</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> showed off some </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">new additions</span><span style="color: #999999;"> to his </span><a href="https://waxpackwonders.blogspot.com/p/the-lesser-knowns.html" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: red;">Lesser Known</span></i></a><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">collection</span><span style="color: #999999;">, which consists of</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> baseball players</span><span style="color: #999999;"> who have </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">family members</span><span style="color: #999999;"> who tend to be much more </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">famous</span><span style="color: #999999;"> or guys who </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">share their name</span><span style="color: #999999;"> with someone more </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">prominent</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZc1RqvfKrIppjCcm3aqnM6f4dr16TuuOHJnuaj93puz49rcrBv590ixDCuhvPkZafRjGD9HEjT3JrSG3n8EsWT5mf9d48tEWnkKDspGZkTm1vv4chttiSJ98eemZTNCoEDCgdiW81ZzRHQghG0Y79Jaw9acFU9Owb3pSSSF-44HKGTe9R8ChwRFGAGwE/s1025/gaedele2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="738" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZc1RqvfKrIppjCcm3aqnM6f4dr16TuuOHJnuaj93puz49rcrBv590ixDCuhvPkZafRjGD9HEjT3JrSG3n8EsWT5mf9d48tEWnkKDspGZkTm1vv4chttiSJ98eemZTNCoEDCgdiW81ZzRHQghG0Y79Jaw9acFU9Owb3pSSSF-44HKGTe9R8ChwRFGAGwE/s320/gaedele2.jpg" width="230" /></span></a></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">While reading his post, I remembered an </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">ESPN</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">article</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> featuring </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kyle Gaedele</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">family ties</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Eddie</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">. You might be thinking... the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">last names</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> aren't even spelled the same. But trust me, </span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">same family</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">. </span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Different spelling</span></i><span style="color: #999999;">. Don't believe me... click </span><a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/13468439/eddie-gaedel-6-foot-3-grandnephew-kyle-gaedele-embraces-family-baseball-connection" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> to read the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">article</span><span style="color: #999999;"> for yourself.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Unfortunately they never had the opportunity to meet each other. </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Kyle</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> was </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">born</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> nearly </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">thirty years after </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Eddie</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;"> passed away</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and didn't really know about his </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">famous granduncle</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> until he was invited to a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">special ceremony</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> honoring the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">famous at-bat</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> in </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Cooperstown</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">As for me and the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">autograph</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Wax Pack Wonder's</span><span style="font-family: Quicksand;"><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><a href="https://waxpackwonders.blogspot.com/2023/04/more-lesser-knowns.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">post</span></a><span style="color: #999999;"> motivated me to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">grab a copy</span><span style="color: #999999;"> on </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">COMC</span><span style="color: #999999;"> for </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">$1.23</span><span style="color: #999999;">. Now I own the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">autograph</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of a </span><i><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">lesser known</span></i><span style="color: #999999;"> </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">guy</span><span style="color: #999999;"> related to the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">shortest player in </span><span style="color: #ffa400;">MLB</span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> history</span><span style="color: #999999;">. The </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">seller</span><span style="color: #999999;"> was probably just glad to unload the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">autograph</span><span style="color: #999999;"> of a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">minor league player</span><span style="color: #999999;"> that never made it past</span><span style="color: #ffa400;"> AA</span><span style="color: #999999;">.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">i might not write as much as before, but I'm </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">truly gratefu</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">l for all of the </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card bloggers</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> out there for their </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">dedication</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">passio</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">n, and </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hard work</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> they put into their </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">posts</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> which open my eyes to </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">hobby news</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">interesting ways to collect</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collection additions</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">, and every once in a while... </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">inspiring me</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to add a </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">card</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> to my </span><span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-family: Quicksand;">collection</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;">Happy </span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Quicksand;">Saturday</span><span style="color: #999999; font-family: Quicksand;"> and sayonara!</span></div>Fujihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00749100861086458307noreply@blogger.com13