30 Day Baseball Card Challenge

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Direct Ties to My Childhood

A huge part of my collection has direct ties to my childhood... which is why a quick glance into it would instantly reveal its diversity.  My entire adult life, I have slowly accumulated things from my childhood.  Skateboards.  Movies.  Record albums.  Video games.  Toys.  Comic books.  And of course trading cards.

Thirty-nine years ago, my mother purchased my first pack of trading cards and it didn't contain any pitchers or infielders.  There were no quarterbacks, point guards, or goalies either.  However there were a few stormtroopers, Jedis, droids, and Wookies.  Yup.  It was a pack of 1977 Topps Star Wars that kicked of this severe addiction to cardboard.

Although I'm not quite the avid Star Wars card collector I once was.  I still love the entire saga... and that includes the ones featuring Jar Jar Binks.  Earlier in the year while walking around the Serramonte Mall Sports Card, Toys, and Collectibles Show, I stumbled across the first issue of Marvel's Star Wars comic book from the original release.

I didn't know much about the comic, so I decided to hold off on purchasing one.  But I went home, did a little research about the different variations and current values, and then started targeting copies on eBay.

At the end of October, I found one that fulfilled my condition requirements as well as my budget:


It's not in perfect condition, but it looks good for being thirty-nine years old and it looks even better after I framed it up:


The comic book was $32 (+ free shipping) and the frame was under $6 with a coupon from Michaels.   Overall... I was excited to make room on my wall for this piece.

This wasn't my only recent Star Wars purchase.

I've slowly been picking up signed baseballs to my collection.  One of them was of Jeremy Bullock who played Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi:


The seller had done a private signing with Bullock a month earlier.  I only paid $28.50 (+ $6.50 shipping) for it, which is a pretty good deal considering I paid $50 for this a few days earlier:


I heavily overpaid on the photo, but it was part of the same private signing (as the baseball) and the cost factored in the JSA certification and the custom photo.  Oh well... win some, lose some.

I'll wrap things up with a bunch of 2015 Topps Tek Star Wars autographs that I've been picking up over the past year or so...




The Billy Dee Williams was by far the most expensive autograph in the lot.  I spent $50.99 (+ $3 shipping) back in January on the Colt 45 spokesperson.  I spent $20 to $25 on Wicket, Yoda, and George Takei.  The rest were in the $10 to $15 range... except for Captain Rex... I was able to pick him up for under eight bucks on COMC.

At this point... I'm going to call my Tek project complete.  I'd love to pick up the David Prowse, but his autograph is a little out of my price range.

Well that's it for now.

Anyone planning to see Rogue One in the theaters?

I've seen all seven theatrical releases... and although I'm no longer that guy who needs to see it on opening night, I'll definitely see it sometime next week.

Happy Thursday and may the force be with you!

16 comments:

Section 36 said...

I'll definitely see Rogue One in theaters. Although, like you, I'll wait a week. I'm guessing there shouldn't be any spoilers I'll need to watch out for so I can take my time.

SumoMenkoMan said...

Nice collection. We are heading there sometime this weekend for sure.

Man said...

I had no idea the did a Topps Tek Star Wars-much better than baseball, nice collection, ah the childhood memories flood-spending summers in Dallas with my cousin and watching the trilogy on a big screen

Anonymous said...

Was hoping to see Rogue one on Friday with a couple of former co workers...but the snow man...the snow!!

Very cool autos from on the cast. In some lovely looking cards too!

Awesome pick ups!

Billy Kingsley said...

Nice auto collection! Our copy of the comic was purchased new when it came out. I don't plan to see Rogue One until it comes out on DVD. I loathe what Disney did with Force Awakens and going to movies gives me a killer headache so I'll wait.

Angus said...

I'll go see Rogue One sometime next week when I go visit my mom in Arizona.

Nice Star Wars acquisitions.

Rob said...

I went to Rogue One tonight, and you need to get to the theater ASAP.

Brett Alan said...

Saw it yesterday, and if agree. As a fellow fan from the first, is loved it.

Corky said...

You have an amazing Star Wars collection. The Bullock autographed photo is pretty bad ass and I am jealous of the Ray Park autograph card.

Ana Lu said...

Bloody hell! What a collection!
I want to go but maybe I can only manage that after Christmas. I've only read good reviews about it.

BobWalkthePlank said...

That is a really cool collection Fuji. Even if you overpaid for the Boba Fett it is still very cool and unique.

GCA said...

I'll probably go at some point. Especially if the two mega-fans go in our office. I'm always looking out for silly Star Wars stuff as gag gifts for them.
I have a reprint of that comic. Still looking for the other two original movies in some comic form. But comics were superceded by cards many years ago.

Unknown said...

Those signatures are rad, especially the Billy D and the Takei! I picked up a big chunk of the 77's at the Modesto Flea Market in a big box of late 70s-early 80s movie cards, I would eventually like to finish 'em off, they're super cool sets.

Daniel Wilson said...

Great collection! Can't wait to see Rogue One. Got tickets to see it with the family tomorrow.

Fuji said...

section 36 - last year one of my students revealed a huge spoiler for a force awakens... but so far it's been out for several days and i've avoided any news about the film.

r laughton - thanks. hope you like it.

brady - yeah... i kinda went nuts on those tek autos. loved they were on-card and made out of acetate.

cardboard hogs - hope you're staying warm. no snow where i'm at... but it's really cold.

billy kingsley - i get anxiety in theaters... but i've got to keep my streak alive. i'll just have to sit on the aisle ;) as for the comic... that's pretty cool. i didn't own the original comic, but i picked up the giant size book back in the day.

angus - have a safe trip to arizona. sent out a package for you today, so you should have something waiting for you when you get back.

rob/brett alan - i've only heard good things, so this is very exciting. i'm planning on seeing it next week with a buddy. but i might end up seeing it this thursday with another friend too.

corky - thanks. my buddy had that photo custom done for the private signing.

ana - i've only heard good things too. i'm very excited.

matthew - thanks. at least i overpaid to a buddy of mine.

gca - i know they wrote the ESB and ROTJ as comics... but didn't make special titles for those movies (which is a shame). the other comic i want to frame is the 1st appearance of boba fett (star wars #42)

patrick smith - yeah... one of my favorite sets is the 1977 topps star wars set. i finally picked it last year (or maybe the year before).

daniel wilson - thanks. i hope you and your family liked it.

Ernest Garcia said...

billy kingsley - i get anxiety in theaters... but i've got to keep my streak alive. i'll just have to sit on the aisle ;) as for the comic... that's pretty cool. i didn't own the original comic, but i picked up the giant size book back in the day.