Ginter madness!!!

Ah, Allen & Ginter. Every year it causes baseball card collectors to froth from the mouth. Or at least it used to. I've been away for awhile. Does it still have that effect?

Anyway. I recently have started to go back through my binders and update my want lists. Seriously, it's been years since I've done so. Neglect, malaise, and of course, laziness have all contributed. So I started with Ginter. I figured that would be a nice easy transition than Topps' base stes with their bajillion inserts, parallels and variations. And short print variations with coloured borders and different backs. With serial numbers.

Ugh.

I purchased a few new cards online to fill in some holes in my binder. Still a ways to go. I thought I'd share a few here.

2006 Mike Kelly. Looking at my lists all these years, I thought it was this Mike Kelly. Imagine my surprise.

 2017 - Mr. Aaron. An outstanding looking card.

 2012 - Mr. Aaron again. You may be asking why, if I'm only showing a few cards, would I show Hank Aaron twice? Because he's the Hammer. Silly question.

 2017 Bartolo Colon. Great googily moogily. Look at the gloriousness of that card! Who doesn't want to see that bust in Cooperstown? (Yeah, I know, busts are in Canton for the NFL. But Bartolo here gets special dispensation.)

 2014 Crimedog!!!! One of my all time underrated players. The man needs some respect.

 2007 Big Bad Bob Wickman.

When he was acquired by the Braves in the late summer of '06, Bobby Cox nearly pitched his arm off. (Wickman was 37 at the time) Bobby went to him and apologized and told Wickman he could have the day off. Wickman told Bobby, I'm 37 years old and don't have a lot of time left. I'll rest when I'm dead.
That's my kind of ball player.

Should any of you have any Ginter lying around that I might need, throw me a line. I probably won't have much to swap back... but you never know.

Allen & Ginter want lists

Who's in for Ginter this year???????????? July is coming fast!

It's a psychedelic tombstone kind of day...

A lot going on around here. I mean besides the massive volume of snow I've received in the past couple of days.
Spring my ass.

Anyways, I've got another order from COMC, as well as a few gifts in the mail recently. So I'll start with a couple of vintage cards to set the mood, and throw in a Thank You post every now and then to mix things up.

Starting off with some 1972's. In the spirit of night owl's come up with a name for every set, I've always called this one the Psychedelic tombstone set. I can't remember what he calls it.... I could go and look it up, but that would take the kind of effort that I just do not possess at this point and time.

A few weeks ago I was actually able to acquire a 1972 Topps card I needed at one of my local shops.
I know!
It surprised me too.
I could've got it for a few bucks cheaper online, but to be able to get one here in person more than made up for it.

Mr Aaron is always welcome in my home. Whatever journey he went on to end up in Calgary after the last 42 years is now over.

Via the COMC route, I was able to add this fantastic Ralph Garr card.

Ralph would go on to lead the league in batting in 1974.

...and Lum Harris. Is this a high number? No idea where the high series starts in this set...

In 7 years of pro ball (interrupted by a couple of years fighting the war), Lum made a grand total of $47,500.
I hear Scott Boras rolling over in his future grave.
1972 was Lum's last year as a manager. He passed away in 1996.

1972 Topps needs, #'s 348, 451, 540, 591, 601, 641, 675, 740, 758, 764, 787

vintage week - Day 7 Pops and Hammerin'

wrapping up vintage week a couple of days late. But we'll end up with a beauty.

 

I have no idea why everyone is in such a hurry to buy the latest 2014 Topps inserts and parallels for outrageously high prices when you can buy cards like this for $0.81 cents!!!

ah well... kids these days.

my '72 team set is coming along nicely... I believe I only need one low number (Sal Bando!)
while still chasing those effing high numbers.
Thankfully the only big name needed left is Phil Niekro. Unless you count Dusty Baker?

my needs
#348, 451, 540, 591, 601, 620, 641, 675, 740, 758, 764, 787

vintage week... Day 3. Birthday edition...

vintage week continues from my check out my cards swap/purchase. Only today we are calling an audible.

I'm showing off the card originally scheduled for Day 6 today (Day 3) because, well because it's Hank Aaron's 80th birthday.

 

1970 All Star #462  $0.63

 

63 cents!!!! WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy birthday big fella!

Delayed Trade Night posting...

I'm only three weeks late in posting this. Which means.... I'm catching up!

I managed to acquire two Braves 'hits' at this trade night. The first is an Alvin Dark auto on a Topps Heritage card.

 The second piece is this Hank Aaron card. It says "Game Used Memorabilia".

 But what does that mean?

You have received a Topps Memorabilia Card. The relic on this card is not from any specific game, event or season.

What the hell does that mean?????? Does it have anything to do with Hank Aaron even??? This could be a floorboard from the dugout from Three Rivers Stadium for all I know.

Does anyone know what Topps has said about these? Anything?

I had to give up a DeSean Jackson '08 Masterpieces auto, a Carlos Ruiz sticker auto from Moments and Milestones, and an '09  Ginter Chase Utley grey jersey.

Fabulous Freddie Freeman ladies and gentlemen....

so last night, Braves rookie 1st baseman Freddie Freeman hit his 15th homer and drove in his 50th RBI of the season. Freddie became the first Braves rookie to drive in 50 runs by or before July 18th since some guy named Henry Aaron in 1954.

No pressure kid.

 all this from someone who looks like he should be handing me my fries. (Well, except for the whole 6'6" 227lbs thing)

If you'll notice I haven't shown any Freddie Freeman cards. That's because I don't have any. Seriously. Will someone out there hook a Braves fan up?

Keep swinging Freddie.

Oh! and for those of you who remember my Craig Kimbrel post from a couple of weeks ago, with his next save he'll set the Braves rookie record for saves with 30.

I'm going to need my shades.

Official Car of the.....

Anyone know what the Official Car of the Atlanta Braves was in 1971??? I'm assuming that's Atlanta Stadium (later Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium) in the background as Mr Aaron trots around the bases.
But it could be spring training too.... who knows?
I got this wonderful card awhile back from our friend Jim, of the famous GCRL blog. Apparently he was at a card show and posted on his blog via Blackberry, asking whether anyone wanted anything. I asked for a '56 Topps Hank Aaron. (I didn't want to be greedy and ask for his '54 RC)
This is what I got in the mail shortly after.
I'll take it. Close counts in hand grenades, horseshoes, and Hank Aaron card collecting....

1975 Topps Mike Lum

In his 9th season with the Braves, Mike was traded after this 1975 season to the Cincinnati Reds. Just in time to win a World Series with the '76 Big Red Machine.
Mike only hit 90 homers in 16 seasons, but managed to hit 3 in one game for the Braves in 1970.
After the Reds, Mike signed on with the Braves again, finishing his career with one season in Chicago in 1981.
Mike was the second player of Asain descent to play in the majors.

And finally, quiz your friends on this one.... Mike Lum, he of the .247 Avg in 1517 games, is the ONLY player to EVER pinch hit for Hank Aaron. It only happened once. And he was the one.