1952 Lightning Bolts. You heard me.

I've been slowly going through the package that dayf the Cardboard Junkie sent me awhile ago. I was initially planning to show this card off last, as it is the best card from the package. But the more I look at it, the more I wanted to show it off. As it is without a doubt, in the top two of cards I have ever received.

There it is. Glorious. For those not in the know, it is a 1952 Topps Earl Torgeson. Perhaps the most over rated set of all, but still epic in it's epicness.

It is also my very first 1952 Topps Brave. My chase for the team set is officially underway. I've always had the '52 set on my list, but it now has a little check mark on it.

But how awesome is this card? For one, it's more oval now than rectangular. What was once the four corners are now as soft as bunnies.
This is the kind of card that takes me back to being a kid again. Something this hobby has lacked for me lately.
And the kid in me says, those are NOT creases, but rather lightning bolts coming from Torgeson's bat!

I think this card is in a tie for my all time favourite card from a fellow blogger. It's right there with this one I featured a long time ago.

 

a 1954 Bowman Eddie Matthews. Also from dayf. I'm sensing a pattern here.

 

Thanks pal.

 

LIGHTNING BOLTS!!!!!

2011-12 Adrenalyn XL - a Manchester United pack break

my buddy dayf sent me a package last week. Included in the awesomeness that I'll share later, was a pack of 2011-12 Adrenalyn XL Manchester United.

 

 look at those guys! Rooney, Giggs, Vidic, and Nani... plus special Power Up cards!

Did I get any of those guys?

No.

But let's see who I did get.

Striker Dimitar Berbatov. He won the Golden Boot Award two season's ago.... he's now playing for Fulham.

 Fabio Da Silva. Left back. He's currently on loan to Queen's Park Rangers in order to get some playing time. His twin brother Rafael plays right back for Manchester United.

 Michael Carrick, midfielder for United. Michael has played really well over the last few games. Very good player.

 Tom Cleverly, midfielder. Young Tom is really carving out a place in the starting eleven for himself. Rapidly becoming a crowd favourite.

 Darron Gibson, midfielder. The young Irishman currently plays for Everton.

 Federico Macheda, striker. The 21 year old Macheda is currently in his 5th season with United. Unfortunately, he's 5th choice among strikers behind Rooney, van Persie, Hernandez, and Welbeck.

Well, only two starters, but all in all, some cool cards. I now have to try and get the rest of them!

Happy New Year!

As promised.... Vintage Junkie

As we bring the massive trade post of the Collective Troll and the Cardboard Junkie to a close.... keeping in mind there is still a huge stack of cards from them that I did not scan... I can't help but think of how generous fellow bloggers are. Not only did I receive these great cards from close friends I've never met, but I got four more trade packages in the mail today, as well as winning a contest at Mint Condition. I'm not going to start tearing up here or anything... but you guys and gals are the best. It's no wonder why I just sent out six packages today. I have to try and keep up...

On with the post.. you know the drill by now, and if you don't, scroll down and read some of these posts from earlier. We'll wait.

1964 Braves team card. The last team card of the Milwaukee Braves... there you can see the little person in the tux on the left again...... wait a minute. If this is the '64 Braves team card.... where's that '63 that Troll sent me?

Lucy, looks like you got 'splainin' to do....

 it's the exact same freaking picture in back to back years. On a TEAM card. Apparently Topps learned their laziness over 50 years ago....

whatever.... here we have a '61 Felix Mantilla.

 Felix hit 18 homers for the Braves in six years. He went to the Red Sox and hit 54 homers in three years. Size matters folks. At least stadium size anyways....
Need 'em!!!!

a 1960 Chuck Dressen card... I talked about Chuck a couple of posts ago...

 Got 'em.

A 1959 Lou Burdette error card!!! Lou is not left handed!!!

 We all know by now fun loving Lou was messing with the photographer. That trickster.
Need 'em!!!

My first '57 Topps Brave!

 Andy Pafko. Andy is probably more famous for being card #1 in the 1952 Topps set than for anything he did on the playing field. Oh, and that Bruce Willis movie.
Need 'em!!!

Ohhh... it's getting good people.
A 1951 Bowman Bob Elliott.

 Bob had a pretty darn good 15 year career in the bigs including 6 All Star teams and being voted the 1947 MVP. Bob's best years were the 5 seasons with the Braves in Boston from 1947 to 1951.
Bob's nickname was "Mr Team"
He passed away in 1966 at the age of 49.

Now for the Grand Poo-Bah. This is one sweet card.... Behold the Awesome that is Eddie Matthews.

Words escape me.

Thank you for the package dayf.

I love that new Braves smell....

 this seems like part 27 of the massive trade/gift packages from dayf and the Troll.... probably 3 more posts after this one. And as per dayf's request, the last two posts will be the vintage.  I got a whole swack of new Braves. This is great, because other than sample packs, I haven't bought any new baseball this year or last. My favourite Troll sent me my first Ginter Brave. Fabulous Freddie Freeman. He also sent my boy Adam.

 Then troll sent a bunch of 2011 Topps Braves... or former Braves. Dudes in Braves uniforms. How's that?

 Jordan Schafer who is now Astro Boy. And Brandon Beachy. Another one of his rookie cards.

 and a great shot of Jonny Venters. I like this because it shows his left arm attached to his body. After Fredi pitches him in a few more games.... it may not be quite so attached.

 The whole gang! Celebrating a Sunday home win! In one of their four regular uniforms! Remember when teams only had two?

 Chipper! Sliding into... second?

 how many horizontal cards did Topps do in this set??? My main question is, I wonder if it's Rick Ankiel safe at third? Or Brian Snitker? Does this count as two runners on one base?

 And finally Troll sent me Tim Hudson. He must really have liked this card because....

 he sent me two. I hope he doesn't need one of these for his set.

 Dayf, knowing that Troll was taking care of Topps flagship, sent me Braves from other sets.

First up, some Heritage.

 Floating Heads!!!

 Chippah!!!

 Derek Lowe asking the photographer if he could have his hat back yet?

 J - Hey smiling. Nice trophy Jason!

 Dan Uggla showing off some palm trees and some light poles. Too bad there wasn't some cars in the background too...

 My boy Adam!!! Now I just need A&G, Gypsy Queen, Lineage... I think.
Speaking of Gypsy Queen...

 Tommy Boy!

 a mini Derek Lowe

 and J- Hey. He's everywhere!!!

 A tiny Prado from Topps... are there mini's in every set now?

 and some Bowman's of the next generation.

Mr Hoover.

 Mr Teheran

 and Mr Delgado. Randall pitches his second game tomorrow night against the Giants.

Thanks guys!!!

Today's trivia question. If you watched the Braves game tonight, it'll be easy. Since Tim Hudson made his major league debut in June of 1999, only one pitcher has more wins than Tim's 177 wins. This pitcher has 179 wins. Who is he?

Friends dusting the cobwebs off of some old wantlists....

This is the continuing story of the infamous dayf and Troll trade/gift packages....

You ever think you'd see the day when a Juan Uribe card led off a show off post??? Me either. But here we are.

 Back in 2007 when I got back into cards, one of the first sets that caught my eye was this set that emulated the 1954 Topps set. Turns out it was called Topps Heritage and was from 2003. I decided to collect it. Not only collect it, but to do what I used to do, which was get the master set. All of the variations and short prints. Four years later I'm still trying to finish that set. Dayf managed to find five cards off of my wantlist, including two SP's. One of which is old Juan Uribe up there.

 As you can see... these aren't high profile players.... but damn hard to find regardless.

 I've never found anyone else who is collecting this set, so if you know someone, let them know about me. I've got lotsa doubles to swap.

 I also did my first trade on The Bench with this set. And my last trade. The trade I did involved $13.10 worth of cards. It took me forever to find a card he wanted to make up that last .10 cents I owed him. This was my re-introduction to beckett.

 Dayf also found a card I needed for the 1976 Topps set that I am very close to finishing. Only 24 more cards to go.

 Next up is a set that no human has managed to complete. The 2008 UD Timelines set. This is the set that never ends. Please sing the song softly to yourself.
A loooong time ago I gave up on the set and sent dayf as many cards as I could off of his wantlist, even from my set regardless if I had duplicates or not. I could be wrong, but I think dayf just sent back the same cards I sent him. Maybe he gave up too. It never ends.

 LOOK! A Yankee!! Without a moustache or tutu drawn on him.

 Here's Mr I run to first base when and if I feel like it.

 and a bum who held on waaaay too long...

 Some die-cut rookies

 Mr Cub. Not.

 Holy Crap! Another Yankee!

 I really, really like this set. But it can never be completed.

 Why yes Mr Towles, it is time to clean my scanner bed, thank you for noticing.

 And why not some 2009 OPC, another of my favourite sets.
Who could resist that face??????

 OPC is another set I'm doing the master set of. And I'm damn close to finishing.

 Awhile back I needed 2 cards to finish the base set. Griffey and Victorino. Four bloggers later, I now have two of each.

 Troll not only sent the Flyin' Hawaiian up there, but also two Braves for my binder.

 well, a Brave and a former Brave. He was a Brave when it was sent.

Thanks a lot guys.... a lot more to come. Next up will be either 2011 stuff or Vintage. Any preferences???