Flea Market Finds 157: Vinyl, Free Cards, and a TV

This post combines two trips to two separate flea markets over the course of two months.

However before we get into the purchases, I'll go ahead and warn everyone that there aren't any baseball cards in this post.  There were plenty of floating around at each of these flea markets, but nothing caught my eye... which means I either didn't want them or they were overpriced.

With that out of the way... let's start with my most recent haul that took place this past Saturday at the De Anza Flea Market.

This one is held in the parking lot of a community college and there was a time when there were hundreds of vendors with at least five regulars selling sports cards.  Unfortunately, the pandemic shut this flea market down and it just hasn't bounced back.  I keep hoping it will... but as of now... it's 30 to 40% of its peak and none of those regular vendors were there this time around.

I did find a few opened factory sets from the late 80's, various boxes filled with commons, as well as a guy with several binders of late 80's baseball cards, but I just don't need to spend anymore money on that stuff.

I also found a guy with a San Francisco Giants SGA set from the Bonds era... but $20 seemed a little steep.  So I decided to spend my hard earned money on more affordable items I'd treasure...

Purchase #1:  Michael Jackson Off The Wall LP  $5

I wouldn't classify myself as a Moonwalker, but I've enjoyed a lot of his songs since I was a kid.  Exactly six years ago, I purchased Thriller at the same flea market for $5.  This past Saturday, I added MJ's fifth studio album to the collection.  

Vendors usually want $20 to $30 for this album... which is why I happily handed over my five bucks.

Random Opinion:  Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough and Rock With You are two of MJ's best songs.

Purchase #2:  Sony Watchman  $10

I'm sure this is a head-scratcher for many of you, so here's the backstory.  When I was a kid, I was kind of a Sony fanboy.  I loved their electronic devices.  Can't remember why I latched onto their products, but I'm guessing it had to do with my friends.

Random Fact:  The Sony Watchman arrived in North America in 1984.

That wraps up this past weekend's trip to the flea market.  Now let's flashback to the 3rd Saturday in April when I walked around the Branham High School Flea Market.  Sorry the write up is so delayed.  Honestly... had I not gone to the flea market last weekend and bought the MJ album... I probably would have just let this haul go undocumented.

But here's more vinyl I picked up....

Purchase #1:  Peter Gabriel LP  $6

This was the big ticket purchase of the day.  Unless it's a Beastie Boys or Beatles album, five dollars is usually the most I'll pay for an album.  There's no rhyme or reason for me spending the extra buck... other than the fact that I wanted this album... and the vendor refused my $5 offer.

He did let me have the next album for $4 though...

Purchase #2:  Go-Go's Vacation LP  $4

Jane Wiedlin and Belinda Carlisle were two of my childhood crushes and both are featured on this album cover.    With this album in the collection, I'll be on the lookout for their debut album.

Random Fact:  Wiedlin's parents met at Marquette University... right around the time my father was there taking a few courses while attending MSOE.

Purchase #3:  The Story of Star Wars LP  $3

This was my favorite find of the day.  I was five years old when A New Hope came out... and so I became a Star Wars fan for life.

The album cover is in poor condition and there is one noticeable scratch, which is why the vendor only wanted a few bucks.  But I've played it twice and it didn't skip, so I lucked out.

Random Fact:  Roscoe Lee Browne narrated The Story of Star Wars.

Purchase #4:  Exciting Christmas Stories LP + 3 Other Albums  $5

The first and last guy I always hit up is a card dealer who always has oddball stuff like sports magazines, figurines, and this time... albums.

He was asking $1 to $3 for his records.  I immediately set this holiday album aside, because I'm a sucker for comic book related items and continued to dig through his stack.  Here are the other three I grabbed:

It's hard to go wrong with three albums performed by members of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame... and each have at least two songs I really, really like.  Out of the four albums, the Elton John was the most expensive.  He wanted $3 for it and a dollar each on the rest, but let me have all four for $5.

Over the past decade or so, I've bought a variety of stuff from him... and occasionally he'll kick down some freebies.  This time around they came in the form of a small Junk Wax Era basketball collection.  Most of it will be taken into the classroom, but I did manage to add about 50 singles to my collection.  I also sent a few to Chris The Collector for some set builds.

Obviously there wasn't anything that would help cover this month's mortgage... just stuff like this:

The most interesting cards were these three 1990-91 Hoops singles featuring celebrity cameos:

1990-91 Hoops #205 (ft. Menedez Brothers)

1990-91 Hoops #223 (ft. MJ w/#12 Jersey)

1990-91 Hoops #235 (ft. Paula Abdul)

I've known about the first two cameos for several years... but only learned about the Paula card recently.  Sadly... I can't remember the source.

Well... that wraps up the last pair of flea market trips during the school year.  The next time I hit the flea market, it'll be during my summer break.  Only two more days of school!  Hallelujah!

So let's hear it...

Any summer plans?

I'll be hanging out with my dad a lot this summer... with a quick trip up to Ashland, Oregon and a quick trip down to Las Vegas here and there.  In between, I'm hoping to recharge the batteries before the next school year, take my dad on some local field trips, and fingers crossed... sit down and reorganize my collection.

Just need to survive the next two days.  Happy Wednesday and sayonara!