It's Not You... It's Me

Oh man... that title kind of makes me feel like one of my dramatic middle school girls.  But "click bait" is "click bait".  Don't worry... I promise I won't annoy you will anything too dramatic.  I'll try to keep things sweet and simple.

I'm officially removing myself from the Super Trader's group.  The group itself is an awesome idea and I really enjoyed swapping cardboard with fellow collectors.  Unfortunately there are a few things that prevent me from being a committed member.

#1: Cards

My quality trade bait inventory is almost entirely depleted.  A few years ago, I picked up a few collections at the flea market... which gave me some solid inventory.  Most of that inventory has now been sent or handed out and I have no immediate plans to restock.

#2: Time

This is going to sound selfish... but it's important to keep things real.  Time is valuable.  And I'm not exactly sure what the deal is... but there really aren't enough hours in the day for me to do everything that needs to be done.  And although I enjoy and can find time to build trade packages... driving down to the post office and standing in long lines aren't high on the priority list.

I used to do this at least once a week.  Then... I scaled things back and was going to the post office once or twice a month.  These days... I only go once every two to three months.

#3:  Commitment

It's important to make commitments in life.  It keeps me "honest" and focused.  But when it comes to trade packages, it can often become overbearing.

People who have traded with me in the past can tell you that it often takes me weeks (let's keep it real... months) to hold my end of the bargain.  That's totally not cool.  I feel bad.  Eventually the number of packages I owe start adding up... along with the stress.  

When I'm finally able to... I'll build the packages, ship them out, and it's like the greatest weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

I'm not sure if this kind of "commitment" is healthy for me at this particular point in my life.

So "where do we go from here" (Alan Parsons Project, anyone)?  Well...

#1:  Secret Santa

I'm excited to be participating in this year's Secret Santa event.  It actually felt really good to go out and shop for my person.  Hopefully they'll enjoy the items I picked out.  I'll be shipping out their package next week, so it'll arrive sometime during the week before Christmas.

#2:  Future Care Packages

I will continue to pick up cards for specific bloggers' collections and build "care packages"... with no strings attached.  So if you receive anything from me... understand that it's a gift... not another trade commitment.

#3:  Future Blogger Trades

I haven't actively traded specific cards for other specific cards in years... and honestly have no plans on starting anytime soon.  My trade lists are outdated and inaccurate.  Will I ever update them?  Probably.  In fact, I have another blog set aside for writing about individual cards available for trade.  But for now... I'm not looking to create any new trades.

I'll wrap things up with this message:

I love this hobby.  I love collecting sports cards.  I love writing posts and reading your responses.  I love reading your blog posts and leaving comments.

But at this junction in my life... I'm just not fit to be a member of the totally awesome Super Traders group.

Happy holidays... happy Tuesday... and sayonara!

Some Tricks and Some Treats

As a kid... Christmas was hands down my favorite holiday.  Seriously.  How can any other holiday compete with a two week vacation, egg nog, and stacks of presents waiting for you under a tree?

With that being said... Halloween was probably my second favorite holiday.  What little kid doesn't love dressing up, staying out extra late, hanging with their buddies, and filling a pillow case with candy?

Sadly... like many awesome things in life... eventually I outgrew the holiday.  Sure... I could have been one of those high school kids who refused to hang up my costume... but I'm thankful I did, because I inherited the job of passing out candy in my household in exchange for hand picked bags of candy.  No more Sweet Tarts, lollipops, Smarties, or that taffy wrapped in orange and black wax paper.

As an adult... Halloween has totally changed.  It's been over a decade since I've carved pumpkins and passed out candy.  I think most of the kids in my neighborhood head over to the local malls or up to the hills where the rich folk live.

But that's okay, because I don't have to spend money on candy anymore.  I also don't have to clean up rotting pumpkins.  And I don't have to answer the doorbell at 11 o'clock at night.

Instead... tonight I'm going to grab dinner with a friend, then head home, hang out, watch an episode or two of Stranger Things, while hopefully sorting some sports cards that have slowly been piling up in my office.

A few of those cards are from a pair of fellow card bloggers: Adam over at Cardboard Clubhouse. and Sir Night Owl.

In the spirit of Halloween, I figured I'd show off a few of the "tricks" and "treats" they donated to my collection.  I'll kick things off with cards from Adam's special Halloween package.

Treat #1:  1983 Fleer #639

Once upon a time, this card was one of the centerpieces to my collection.  In 1983, Rickey Henderson was still my favorite player and any piece of cardboard featuring him was treasured.


Treat #2:  1991-92 Pro Set #558

Twenty-five years ago, this card was one of the hottest cards in my area.  Falloon was considered a major building block for the San Jose Sharks franchise and local fans couldn't get enough of him.  I'm pretty sure we sold these for $2 to $3 each at the card shop I worked at.

Treat #3:  1991 Stadium Club Charter Members/Member's Only

1991 Stadium Club baseball is one of the greatest sets from the Junk Wax Era and the Charter Members and Member's Only sets are no exception.  Just look at that photography.  I'll be very happy to add these three cards to my Rickey Henderson oddball's and inserts binder later on tonight.

Trick #1:  1993 Stadium Club A's Team Set #8

Back in 1993, Topps produced special Stadium Club cards that were only available in factory sealed team sets.  Adam generously sent me a complete A's set, which included another awesome Rickey Henderson card for my collection.  The only problem will be deciding whether or not to keep it as part of the team set... or to add it with the other three Stadium Club oddballs to my binder.  Talk about a First World Problem.

Thanks Adam for all of the awesome A's and Sharks cards you sent my way.  If I can get my life together, I'll show you my appreciation with a Thanksgiving care package.  Otherwise... it might end up being a Christmas care package.

Okay... next up are a few singles from Night Owl's Super Trader package:

Treat #4:  2016 Allen & Ginter #350

I'm pretty sure that this is my first A & G card of the season... and it's surprisingly for my Steve Carlton collection. Most of you know that I collect the A's and Padres, but this card is cool, because I don't talk about my Lefty PC that much.  I grew up a huge Steve Carlton fan, because he was one of the best left handed pitchers of his era.  Unfortunately... I don't add singles to the collection nearly as much as I should.


Treat #5:  2016 Allen & Ginter Laureates of Peace Mini #LP1

This card might seem a little random to the casual reader, but I knew what collection it was going into as soon as I held it in my hand.  If you look carefully, you'll notice a nice chunk taken out of the bottom lefthand corner.  Most collectors would cringe at the sight... but I embrace it.

Trust me people... this card is not a "trick".  It's very much an awesome "treat" for my Damaged Card PC.


Trick #2:  1997 Topps Wheaties #NNO

I spent fifteen minutes trying to figure out what this card was!  Any card that requires me to do research must be classified as a "trick".  However... before I sound like an unappreciative spoiled little brat, let me say that I truly enjoy being a sports card detective.  

Bottom line... it's going to be one of the coolest McGwire cards in my binder.


Treat #6: 2013 Topps Chasing History Holo-Foil #CH28

I'll wrap up this post with this shiny Topps insert of my favorite athlete of all-time.  This is actually my third copy of this card.  The first copy always goes into my Tony Gwynn binders.  The second is thrown into the Gwynn section of my insert and oddballs binders.  And this one?  This one is going into a card stand that will be displayed on my desk at work... along with other shiny, cool cards that will hopefully attract the eyes of future generations of collectors.

Thank you Adam and Greg for the generous care packages.  You know the routine... I should have something headed your way in a month... or two.

Happy Halloween and sayonara!

Commitment Issues

It took a few weeks longer than I anticipated... but I finally made it down to the post office and shipped out the grocery bag full of care packages that I owed so many of you guys.

I've also been thinking about removing myself from the awesome group of Super Traders.  I'm just not sure if I can continue to pull my weight over the long haul.  When I first reentered the hobby back in the late 2000's, I loved making trades on Sports Card Forum and Card Collector's World.  However something has changed.  I've lost the motivation and at the present time... feel a little burnt out.  

This hobby has always been my personal happy place.  The past eight years, I've always turned to my collection, my blog, your blogs, and all of your great posts whenever I needed a break from work or other things going on in my life.  I assure you that I have no plans of walking away from any of those things, but I'm considering taking my name out of the Super Traders hat and letting a more responsible... more punctual person take my place.

Are there any other Oakland Athletics bloggers/collectors out there who would be interested?

This doesn't mean that I've sent my final care package out.  I still have plenty of cards to give away... no strings attached.  No trade commitments.  No guaranteed shipping dates.  Just friendly care packages.

Have a good weekend everyone.  Happy Saturday... and sayonara!

End of Summer Box Break

My summer break is officially over.  I reported back to work this morning and spent the day lesson planning and sitting in meetings.  Wednesday is the big day... when I'll meet my 160 seventh graders.

Fun.  Fun.  Fun.

In preparation for my return to the classroom, I went to the wholesaler last week and picked up two boxes that were on sale:  2013 Panini Prizm Draft Picks ($28) and 2013 Topps Supreme ($39).

Normally I'm not a fan of Panini products... especially their draft stuff... but I needed some Yankees prospect cards for Kenny over at Torren' Up Cards.  The wholesaler had 2014 boxes available as well... but the 2013 was more affordable.  In the end... being cheap paid off, because I pulled my very first Kris Bryant autograph.

In addition to the Bryant, I also pulled a Katoh autograph for my Japanese PC and two other guys I've never heard of.

Kenny... the Michael O'Neill is yours.  One problem... I forgot to put it inside of your care package... so you'll need to wait for the next round which will probably ship out during either Thanksgiving or Christmas break.

Here are the rest of the inserts and parallels from that box:

The Topps Supreme box was kind of a bust, but I knew this was one of those high risk kind of breaks going into it.

I was a little disappointed to see Fielder featured in his Yankees pinstripes.  It's like pulling an autograph of Rickey Henderson and seeing him wearing a Dodgers jersey.

Oh well... I can't complain too much.  He was fun to watch back in the 80's and this is my very first autograph of him.

I'll wrap things up by updating everyone on the status of care package construction.  I know I'm a little tardy... but I should have packages shipped out to the following bloggers by the end of the week: The Lost Collector, Cards on Cards, GCRL, Oddball Card, Torren' Up Cards, Dawg Day Cards, 1975 Baseball Cards, The Angels In Order, The Underdog Card Collector, Night Owl, Too Many Verlanders, Jay Barker Fan, Waiting 'Til Next Year, Highly Subjective and Completely Arbitrary, and KevAlan (CCW).

Packages range from flat rate boxes to PWE's.  I apologize for the delay.  Sorting and organizing took a lot longer than I anticipated.  Plus I needed to go out and restock some of my trade bait.

If by chance I owe you a care package and you don't see your name on this list... please email me or leave a comment below.  The good news is I always pay off my debts.  The bad news is my next round of packages probably won't ship out until my Thanksgiving or Christmas breaks.

Happy Monday and sayonara!