Saturday Night Five: Food vs. Cards

Earlier this week, my friend and I went out and celebrated each others' birthdays over a nice meal at Alexander's Steakhouse in Cupertino.  It's not your typical Sizzler, Black Angus, or Outback Steakhouse where you walk out spending $30 to $60 per person.  This restaurant is reserved for only special occasions... well at least for me... a teacher on a fixed budget.  In fact, I'm pretty sure that it's the most I've ever spent on a single meal.  And although the prime rib, hamachi shots, and popcorn crab were very delicious... I just couldn't help but think about how much we were spending and what cards I could have purchased with the extra money had we went to McDonald's or Taco Bell instead.

In fact even while we were enjoying our meal... there were at least four or five moments when this card popped into my head:

1999 Upper Deck Century Legends Epic Signatures #JR

This is the card that currently sits atop my want list.  It features one of my favorite autographed card set designs and the hard signed signature of one of the most popular players in the 90's.  And with the money I spent on Wednesday, I could have easily bought this card.

In fact, I could have picked up any of the cards on my Top 5 Want List:

#2:  1956 Topps #5 Ted Williams

Beautiful Card Design + Baseball Legend = Must Have Cardboard

#3:  1996 Skybox Premium Exchange Card #B Brett Favre

Back in 1996, Skybox issued a cross product insert set of Brett Favre.  One of the cards was available only through the redemption of two exchange cards.  I already own the left side... and for the past six years, I've been searching for the right side.


#4:  1996 Leaf Signature #22 Ken Caminiti

Caminiti is a fellow SJSU alum and the all-time slugging percentage leader for the San Diego Padres.  Out of the three different autographed cards of him pictured in his Padres uniform, this is my favorite.

#5:  2004 UD Legends Timeless Teams Autograph #85 or #101 Billy North

And wrapping things up is Billy North.  North was an integral cog of the Oakland Athletics during the 70's.  His role was to terrorize opponents on the base paths and Reggie Jackson in the dugout.

Well that's a look at the five cards currently sitting atop my cardboard want list.  I won't say that I regret going out to dinner, because the food and company was awesome.  But after reflecting upon the bill... I probably could have purchased all five of these cards instead.

Happy Saturday and sayonara!