2022 was a weird year in the sense that there were a lot of curveballs and changeups thrown at me. It forced me to reflect and make minor adjustments in my life. One of those things was preparing for retirement. I still have at least ten, but more likely eleven or twelve years left in the classroom. But after purchasing a new car and taking care of a few things around the house... I needed to get my finances in order so that when the time comes, I can start the next chapter in my life.
The other thing was balancing my free time. The past fourteen to fifteen years, I've spent a high percentage of that free time with my card collection. Then in 2010, I upped the ante when I started this blog. But the past few months, I've decided to to downshift... and slow down the frequency of posts. There was even a point where I questioned whether or not I'd ever start writing again. But obviously blogging isn't an addiction I'm ready to quit.
Over the Christmas Break, I had fun going through some care packages and planning some posts. I also spent a large percentage of my time off cleaning and organizing things around the house. Sadly, I'm still not finished... but I'm close.
There are several several bags worth of hoodies, sweatshirts, and jackets that are cluttering my living room couch. I've got to either donate them or add them to the flea market stash (assuming I set up at the flea market again in the near future).
Plus there's this...
A. Care package cards from Reader X and Woody @ CCW.
B. COMC cards from earlier in the year.
C. Random sets accumulated over the years.
D. eTopps collection
E. Online Dime Box mystery packs
In an effort to kick off this cleaning process, I decided to wrap up 2022 by opening up one of these $1 mystery packs... as well as showing off a few mystery cards.
Since most of you prefer baseball, I grabbed one of those packs... although I also purchased basketball, hockey, and non-sport mystery packs. Here's a peek at the pack before I tore into it:
As promised... the pack contained fifteen cards:
1993 Topps #660
Athletes who spend twenty years with the same franchise are special and Trammell was one of those guys. This is really the only card I'm interested in keeping... as I collect Topps flagship cards of hall of famers during their playing years. However... if Dennis needs it, I don't mind passing it along to a Tigers fan.
1992 Leaf #21
He finished his career with a 240 wins, 2,773 strikeouts, and a 57.1 WAR.
Unfortunately... I can't remember who sent them to me. That's the problem with letting cards stack up on your desk for several months. If you sent me any or all of these, please let me know down below so I can thank you properly. Sorry in advance.
Now I'm not saying that Tanana should have a plaque hung up in Cooperstown (and I don't think the guy who produced the video is either), but it's a little crazy that he didn't receive a single vote. To put this into perspective, Placido Polanco received two votes a few years ago.
Okay... it's getting late and I want to catch the 2nd half of the TCU versus Michigan game. But before I do, here are a few "hits" that were sitting in a stack buried on my desk until recently:
2014-15 Upper Deck UD Game Jersey #GJ-LC
2020 Panini Elite Extra Edition Hidden Gems #HG-Bu
2013 Topps Heritage Clubhouse Collection Relics #CCR-YA
2018 Donrus Diamond Collection #DC-DL
That wraps up 2023. There won't be any fireworks or partying for this evening. As soon as I'm finished with editing and publishing this post, I'm going to grab another bowl of chili and watch the game.
2001 Fleer Ultra College Greats Preview Autograph #NNO
Sorry Dennis... but I'm rooting for the Horned Frogs in honor of my niece who graduated from there last year.
Just looked up the score to see what quarter they were in and TCU won. Ugh. I was too slow.
Happy New Year everyone! 2023 is a complete mystery to me, but hopefully one with a happy ending.
Happy Saturday and sayonara!
17 comments:
Hapoy New Year!
That Tanana was the first card I spotted! Have fun getting organized. Happy New Year!
Happy New Year my friend.
I definitely understand needing to throttle back, but I am glad you decided to keep posting, for now at least!
Happy New Year! The thing with going through all your goodies at your house it’s like Christmas all over again if you forgot you had any items. TCU game was good as was the Georgia game!
Here's to a great 2023, Fuji! I'm sure the de-cluttering project is feeling good.
Happy New Year! Both college games were great.
Best if luck with the decluttering and sorting!
BBCS mystery packs are usually better that that one (which was clearly meant for Dennis lol), maybe your other sports had more value in them. I have an order from their site on the way. No mystery packs but I did pick up one card that might be headed your way. If I send you a PWE do not feel obligated to open it right away or post it to your blog ;)
That's a nice Tomlinson auto! I was rooting for Michigan but college football isn't really my thing. Good game though!
Congrats on all the adulting you did in 2022, and all the best in 2023. Happy New Year Fuji!
I sent the two Padres relics
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Love the LT auto!
SCC
Sometimes it sounds like you might not be able to make to the end of your current school year. Are you sure you're gonna be able to make 10-12 more?
To a fun and productive 2023. The Trammel is definitely a keeper. Great SS. Fun post.
Happy New Year! I'm glad you aren't ready to quit the blogging addiction yet!
john sharp - happy new year john!
the angels in order - it took way longer than anticipated, but the organization of the stuff in that photo is finished. finally.
johnnys trading spot - happy new year john!
the diamond king - just adjusting to the new pace :D
sumomenkoman - it was pretty fun, but sitting on the floor took its toll on my back. had to break up the sessions and spread it out over a several days. as for the tcu game, it was pretty awesome. shame they got trounced by georgia
gregory - happy new year gregory!
the lost collector - happy new year aj! it was fun.
already found some new stuff to sort and declutter.
chris - happy new year chris! yeah, this was probably the worst mystery pack in regards to value. but honestly... it was still worth it in my book. it provided entertainment and contents for this post.
anonymous - lol. thanks. name by chance?
jeff b - happy new year jeff!
scc - happy new year! now if i can just land one with him in his chargers jersey.
jon - it's been a long school year. not necessarily bad, just tiring. i think part of it has to do with my bad back. assuming i don't have any major health issues, i'll be able to do 10 to 12. i don't really have a choice if i want to be able to afford the rising cost of living in retirement. on the bright side, i still really like my job.
bulldog - i was looking on comc and topps did a pretty good job with trammell cards in regards to his flagship ones. i've already set it aside for my collection
matt - happy new year matt!
I bought my nephew a mystery hockey pack from a gas station and it all seemed legit. My neph is sitting in the back and half the pack had these cards called “Benchwarmers?” Like ladies or something.
“Brett…. Hull, Serrrrr?”
“Sergei Federov?”
“Yeah!”
“Far out. Red Wings, man”
“What’s this? Daisy Dukes?”
“Edmonton Oilers…. Wait, what?”
Love the LT!
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