Animal Themed Post

Back in 2021-22 in the midst of the hobby boom... I decided to sell off the bulk of the sticker autographs I had accumulated over the years.  I also stopped searching for new ones for my personal collection.  If the athlete didn't hold the card and sign it, I wasn't interested.

Then I heard that Topps inserted Goose Gossage autographs into their 2025 Topps NPB products and I wanted to add one to my NPB collection.  Unfortunately... Topps had him sign stickers which forced me to decide.  Live without one of these autographs... or make an exception to the on-card autograph rule.

2025 Topps Chrome NPB Autograph #AC-GG

After patiently waiting for one to fall into my price range, I ended up adding this Goose to my collection.  It features him pitching for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks back in 1990, before he returned to the MLB the following season.  

He is one of four former NPB baseball players to be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.  Larry Doby, Ichiro Suzuki, and Andruw Jones are the other three.

While I'm on the subject of NPB trading cards, Kenny over at Torren' Up Cards sent me a pair of PWE's back in April & May that contained a few 2025 Topps NPB singles:

He also included some Bandai and Calbee cards:

Franmil Reyes' name popped out.  He played for the Padres a few years ago.  I was also happy to see a pair of Fujis within the Calbee cards.

But the card that stood out the most was this shiny Munetaka Murakami:

2024 Dream Order #CBP01-S02

His MLB start was pretty impressive with 20 home runs in his first 200 at bats, but he's currently recovering from a hamstring strain.  Hopefully he returns to the batter's box soon... and his home run tear continues.

Kenny sent one more item:

Signed Cheki

I have no idea who this lil' bunny is, but I was very excited to add her to my Japanese Model PC:

Thank you Kenny!

Last month... Brendan over at The View from the Third Floor also sent me a PWE filled with some Japanese athletes:

Hachimura is currently the Laker's starting power forward, but this Gonzaga Bulldog made history in 2017 when he became the first Japanese national to play in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

He also sent me this SI for Kids card of Vicki Huber:

1990 SI for Kids #136

Huber is a Villanova Wildcat who won multiple NCAA indoor championships as well as the Broderick Award (given to the top female collegiate track and field athlete) in 1988 and 1989.

Thank you Brendan!

I'll wrap up this post with one more PWE with some Japanese athletes:

2006 Fleer Ultra #176 and #169

This pair was sent to me by Greg over at Crocodile Sports Cards a few weeks ago.  Not sure if Godzilla qualifies as an animal, but Matsui was truly a beast during his NPB and MLB career.

He also send me this trio of Hawks:

1991 Action Packed #259, #256, and #260

And this autograph of the 2008 Texas League ERA leader:

2011 Topps 60 Autographs #T60A-VM

Mazzaro dominated Texas League batters in 2008:

He kicked off his MLB career in Oakland and ended up pitching for eight seasons in the Show... including one in Miami as a Marlin.

Thank you Greg for these cards and this very cool sticker:

Started off with a Goose.  Couldn't think of a better way to wrap up an "animal" themed post than with a crocodile.

Happy Wednesday and sayonara! 

Gone Fishing

Not really.  I haven't fished in years.  But I have been forced to take time off from the blog in recent weeks to focus on school related stuff.  As luck would have it... I caught a set I've been seeking for several years. 

No idea where I originally saw it, but it has popped up a few times on my eBay saved searches.  Unfortunately each time I've been outbid.  Well a few weeks ago, this pack came up in an eBay auction with a $15 (free shipping) starting bid:

1997 Upper Deck Shimano Pack

As luck would have it... I was the lone bidder.  Emotions ran high... as I was absolutely stoked to win this auction at that price.  Then things went sideways fast.

The seller had marked the set as "shipped" with tracking, but whenever I tried to access the current location it was unavailable.  Finally it showed up in San Diego last Saturday which was a huge relief.  Unfortunately almost three weeks after the purchase date, the tracking number is still listed as "status not available".

However as you can see... the set arrived safely yesterday.  Here's a peek at the six card set in its entirety:

1997 Upper Deck Shimano Set

My fifteen minute Google search didn't reveal how these packs or cards were distributed, but I'm guessing they were likely part of a Shimano promotion.  Buy a rod and receive a pack of cards?

Most of you could care less about collecting cards of professional anglers.  Maybe that's why Upper Deck made sure to include two baseball players in the set.

If things weren't so hectic at work, I'd probably dive deeper into each of these athletes.  But I'm short on time, so here's a look at the back of the Gwynn:

How cool would it have been run int Tony and Rickey out on Lake Poway?

Anyways... I'm not sure when you'll see another post on here.  I'm working on a recap of last Saturday's trip to the De Anza Flea Market.  But this weekend, I'm hanging out with my brothers in celebration of our birthdays.  Hopefully I'll finish and publish it sometime next week (fingers crossed).

Until then...

Happy Thursday and sayonara!

The Blogger National 2025

Once upon a time, it was a dream of mine to attend The National Sports Card Convention.  Things have changed.  I changed.

Don't get me wrong... if the circumstances were right... I might attend.  I'm just not sure it'll ever actually happen.

The biggest obstacles for me are:

#1:  Money

2002 Topps Gallery Baseball Bucks #NNO

I'm assuming the NSCC will never come back to San Francisco.  What does this mean?  It means that if I ever want to attend the show, I'd have to set aside a lot of money for travel expenses (flight, hotel, car rental, food, etc.) plus a hobby budget for the show.

Now I've talked to a few collectors who have attended and they have all assured me it would be worth the money spent... just to experience it.  Maybe they're right.  I'm just not sure I want to wager thousands of dollars to find out they're wrong.

#2:  Timing

1977 Topps #433

The NSCC always takes place at the end of my summer break.  Now that's perfect timing for some.  Me?  It's terrible timing.  Right before I head back into the classroom, my goal is to recharge the batteries and relax.  Attending the NSCC might be tons of fun, but I don't think it meets my definition of "relaxing". 

#3:  Traveling

2018 Topps Heritage News Flashbacks #NF-5

It would be one thing to hop into a car and drive one, maybe two hours to a card show.  I've done that before.  It's another thing to ask me to fly.  Will I do it?  Yeah.  But it's not my favorite thing to do.  

#4:  Crowds

1992 Pro Set Guinness Book of Records #16

I'm also not a fan of standing shoulder to shoulder with strangers.  Now based on some of the videos I've seen on YouTube, things seemed to be spaced out nicely in some areas.  However I saw one clip that showed a crazy long line to get into the show.  If I have to wait more than 15 minutes in line, I'd rather just hit up my local flea market.

This is the biggest obstacle by far and ultimately the thing preventing me from attending the show.  Money, timing, and traveling are all things I could probably handle... especially if I planned ahead.  Not sure I can say the same thing about the crowds.

That's why I'd much rather hang out in Matt's Blogger National... which is a blog bat-around where I have the opportunity to show off recent purchases I made over on eBay (instead of waiting in long lines at the actual National).

Purchase #1:  An Upgrade for my A's PC

1973 Topps #210

The Oakland A's won the World Series the year I was born.  This card celebrates that event.

Back in 2020, I picked up a PSA 6 graded version of this card for under $5, but I started looking for an affordable upgrade right after that.  4 Sharp Corners has listed a few of these with BIN prices of $39.99 (+ $8.75 tax & shipping) in recent months.  I have been sitting on a few eBay gift cards and decided to use one of them on this card.

I know most of you could care less about graded cards... but I'm really happy to add this to my collection of A's World Series celebration cards.

Purchase #2:  Worst Purchase Ever?

A few years ago, I paid $45 for a Clayton Kershaw autograph.  Unfortunately... it wasn't actually autographed.  I just thought it was when I sent the eBay vendor the offer.  This is arguably my worst eBay purchase of all-time... until two weeks ago.

That's when this listing popped up.  It's for a set of 1984 Smokey the Bear Padres cards.  It's a stadium giveaway set that features a lot of cool cards including a second year Gwynn, the San Diego Chicken, and even a card of HOF umpire... Doug Harvey.  Pretty neat, right?  Well that's why I offered the seller $18 (+ $6.38 tax & shipping) right before I fell asleep that night.

The next morning I woke up and saw that he accepted.  I was stoked and couldn't wait to get my hands on this set.  A few days it arrived... and I realized how dumb of a purchase this was.

The first thing I noticed was that the cards were in rough shape.  They look like they've been sliding around in someone's shoebox the past forty-one years.  But that's not even the worst thing about this purchase.

It's missing four cards!  And yup... the Gwynn and Chicken are two of them.  Garvey and the header card are the other two cards missing.  Well... at least it had the Harvey.  It also has HOF manager Dick Williams:

1984 Smokey San Diego Padres SGA #NNO

Anyways... the worst was yet to come.  After feeling like I had been sucker punched.  I headed over to eBay to see the original listing.  And guess what... the seller totally listed it as a "Partial Team Set".

I've got nobody to blame except for myself.

Purchase #3:  A Different Kind of Rainbow

1986 McDonalds Seattle Seahawks Sets

(Blue, Black, Orange, & Green)

Not gonna spend too much time writing about this purchase, since most of you are baseball fans.  

1986 McDonalds Seattle Seahawks #80

If you've never seen these before, they're regional cards handed out at McDonalds back in 1986.  There are four different colored tabs, but each colored set contains the same twenty-four players.

A eBay vendor had listed this lot of four sets (for $45.55) and was accepted offers.  I sent an offer of $38 (+ $7.55 tax & shipping) and they accepted.  This was part of the same $100 eBay gift card from above.

Well that wraps up my trip to the 2025 Blogger National.  I could have included a few other purchases, but I'm saving those for future posts.

In the meantime let's check out some cards I recently received from a blogger who is actually at the 2025 National Sports Card Convention.  Stuart over at S.R. '75 Cards has been spreading O-Pee-Chee love around the blogosphere the past few weeks.  I was very happy to be included.

But before we get to those Canadian cards, here are a few other items he sent for my collection...

1995 Topps #389

I'm not sure how this card has eluded my Gwynn collection the past thirty years.  But thanks to Stuart... I finally have a copy in my Gwynn binders.

He also sent me two new Gwynn inserts:

1999 Pacific Omega Hit Machine 3000 #11 (#'d 2909/3000)

2002 UD Prospect Premieres Heroes of Baseball #HTG2

It's O-Pee-Chee time!

Let's start with some 1992 singles for my A's and Padres collections:

There are a few big names in this lot, but none bigger than Rickey:

1992 O-Pee-Chee #560

Just look at those career numbers he had already accumulated by the end of the 1991 season.  Can you believe he would go on to play another twelve seasons in the MLB?

Stuart also sent me some 1981 O-Pee-Chee cards:

He included three hall of famers:

1981 O-Pee-Chee #229

1981 O-Pee-Chee #254

1981 O-Pee-Chee #261

And for those looking for the French text...

Thank you Stuart for all of these O-Pee-Chee cards and the trio of new Gwynns.  Hope you're having fun at the NSCC.  And thank you Matt for inspiring and kicking off the 2025 Blogger National.  I hope a bunch of other bloggers will join in on the fun.

As for the rest of you...

Happy Sunday and sayonara!