You can't even make a phone call for that anymore...

.25 cents. You can't get much for .25 cents anymore. Not even a phone call. IF you can find a payphone that is.

But I found something I wanted, and yes, it only cost me .25 cents.

 

At a card show, one of the regular sellers brough a big box filled with small sets from the late '80s and early '90s. Mostly hockey. Stuff that really no one wants, but everyone had at one time when they were sure it was part of a well thought out retirement plan.

 

You know what I'm talking about.

1991 Score Young Superstars set.

1990 Classic set

1991 Upper Deck Hi number set.

1991 The Tuxedo set.

 

You get the drift. Nothing worth grabbing. In fact, it might be better if it was burnt for warmth.

 

But at the very bottom, tucked in a corner, was this beauty. Still in it's original package.

 1992 Kellogg's 3-D All Star set. 10 cards, sealed for freshness.

How much is this package of goodness? .25 cents was the answer. And just like that, it was mine.

My buddy Brett asked me, "Are you going to open it?"

Hell yeah! It's mine now... not going anywhere.

Now I'll share it with you. Aren't you lucky? Of course you are. It's why you come here.

According to my up to date and highly accurate 2009 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards, this is the highly sought after Canadian version. What are the odds?

Like a lot of Kellogg's cards, they're oddball sized at 2 1/2" x 2 5/16"

 being the Canuck version, you of course have bilingual backs.

 The American version had only English backs naturally.

 Also, the Canadian cards were found in boxes of Frosted Flakes...

 while the U.S. cards were distributed in boxes of Corn Flakes.

 So you can tell the difference in the sets from the front, and back.

 Schmidt seems to be the most valuble card in the set...

 I was hoping to find a Brave inside, and I did!

 Quisenberry was on the front of the package...

 ... and Schmidt was on the back.

 Pretty decent player selection, but not who I expected in a 1992 set.

Pops seems a great way to end off in a Post dedicated to Cereal cards.

See what I did there? Post cereal? Pops? As in Corn Pops?

m.a.i.l.f.r.o.m.g.c.r.l.

I've received a few packages over the last little while. Most of them have included cards from my wantlists, which is awesome.

Some people may not get excited over '89 Score, or '93 Upper Deck... but I do. As long as it's on my list, it's golden.

 

 

My pal Jim, otherwise known as gcrl, sent me a few cards the other day. I won't bore you (too late) with most of them, particularly the six cards from 2012 Topps Update that I needed... so I'll so you some shiny instead.

 

From last year's Bowman chrome, a green refractor of Brandon Beachy. These are awesome. I would like all the colours please.

 Speaking of colours, let's have a xmas theme and show a red bordered parallel from the previously mentioned 2012 Topps Update set. Big Ben came back from two years of injury for one last go. He pitched really well for the Braves, including one last emotional start on the last day of the season against Pittsburgh.
Knowing he was retiring because of another slight injury, manager Fredi Gonzalez told him he was getting the start, and to let it all hang out because he would be pulled after one inning.
Ben lit it up, 12 pitches, 8 strikes, 4 foul balls and two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 inning.
Thanks for everything Ben.

 Another card from 2012 Bowman Platinum... everytime I think I've completed the Braves team set, someone sends me a card I don't already have. That's Bowman in a nutshell.

 a couple of cards that weren't on any list.... from 2003, cards of Al Hrabosky...

 ... and the man himself, Eddie Mathews.

Pretty damn cool. Thanks Jim!

A package is already on it's way in your direction.

Premier League Contest - Match 29

Getting down to the grit. Only 10 matches left for most, for some clubs, only nine. We'll get into more of that at the bottom.

Welcome to Match 29.

Manchester United managed to eliminate another club last week, as Swansea, despite winning their match, was mathematically eliminated. If United beats Reading, West Bromwich and Liverpool are out. If United win, and Everton lose or draw, they are out as well.

Club	Pld	Pts
Man Utd	28	71
Man City	28	59
Tottenham	29	54
Chelsea	28	52
Arsenal	28	47
Liverpool	29	45
Everton	28	45
West Brom	29	43
Swansea	29	40
Fulham	28	33
Stoke	29	33
West Ham	28	33
Newcastle	29	33
Norwich	29	33
Sunderland	29	30
Southampton	29	28
Aston Villa	29	27
Wigan	28	24
Reading	29	23
QPR	29	23

Speaking of Liverpool, it was brought to my attention that not everyone had last weekend off for FA Cup action. Okay, I'm an idiot. Thanks for the email Richard....

A partial schedule was played, with 6 matches.

IF your team played last weekend, you may make a seperate post on this weekends action for that result.
Please make it seperate and put the date on there somewhere so when I tabulate points, I know why I'm counting your team twice.

Enjoy the full slate of games this weekend, and let's have your results posted by late Monday afternoon.

and as always, Go United!!!

Habemus Papam!

We have a new Pope! Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires is now the new Pope. Popes are elected for life, but at 76 years of age and already minus a lung due to severe illness, we may be seeing more smoke quite soon. Don't burn those unused ballots quite yet.

He took the name Francis, mainly because Jorge Mario Bergoglio just takes too damn long to say.

Do Popes get their names like tropical storms and hurricanes? Is there a list somewhere?

Welcome Pope Frank.

For those of you keeping track, that makes five Popes since the Leafs last won the Cup....

Can they hold out for a sixth?

Probably my only Heritage post...

Ahhh... Topps Heritage. The one set every year that sends collectors off on a rant... either good or bad. Love it or hate it.
The love of retro, the hatred of thin, shiny cardstock. The love of set building, the hatred of needless short prints and gimmicks.

I could argue and debate until the cows come home. (usually around dusk, depending on the weather) but instead, today, we'll just talk about cards. (with one, minor exception.) Focus on the positives!

At trade night last Thursday, the card shop owner called me over as he wanted help busting a box of this year's Heritage. He knew I was pretty much the only one there out of the 25-30 people that would appreciate it.
So I grabbed a few packs and tore in.

And I have to say, other that a few poorly chosen photos.... it looks like a fun set to build and put in pages.

Will I?

Maybe... but later on. I can't right now... tight budgets you know.

A few cards were thrown my way for "helping."

A brand new Adam LaRoche for my rather large LaRoche collection. I've ignored it over the last couple of years and I feel bad about it.

The Braves starting SS, Andrelton Simmons.

Michael Bourn shows his displeasure after finding out no one would sign him because of the 1st round pick compensation rule.... Cleveland finally caved.

The best pitcher in all of baseball early last year until his elbow fell off, Brandon Beachy.

The best pitcher in all of baseball in the 2nd half, Kris Medlen. 11-1  1.57 ERA. Yes please.

Kris Medlen hot box!

There was also a couple of Braves purple refractors and a Tim Hudson relic, but those were kept towards his master set that he's building. Hopefully he gets dupes.

I also bought a pack out of a fresh box. I won't bore you (too late) with all of the cards... but I will show you two.

First, this card of Red Sox thirdbaseman Will Middlebrooks.

What in the hell is that??? What a horrible airbrushing job. And why? Will Middlebrooks plays for the Red Sox. Will Middlebrooks has only ever played for the Red Sox. Will Middlebrooks has never played for anyone other than the Red Sox.
Sooooo.... they airbrushed out a Red Sox uni and hat, and replaced it with a Red Sox uni and hat?

Whatever. Stay positive. Right?

How about this for positive?

Boo yeah!

Regular blue ink autos fall once every 5 boxes.... no idea what the odds are on these red ink autos /64. But I pulled one.

Now if I can only trade it for a Brave.

Premier League Contest - Match 28

Pay attention! It's Match 28 of 38.

It seems that the Table is starting to take shape. The top is seperating themselves, while the bottom feeders are struggling to stay out of relegation.

Manchester United eliminated two more teams this past weekend.

Club	Pld	Pts
Man Utd	27	68
Man City	27	56
Tottenham	27	51
Chelsea	27	49
Arsenal	27	47
Everton	27	42
West Brom	27	40
Liverpool	27	39
Swansea	27	37
Stoke	27	33
Fulham	27	32
Norwich	27	32
Newcastle	27	30
West Ham	27	30
Sunderland	27	29
Southampton	27	27
Wigan	27	24
Aston Villa	27	24
Reading	27	23
QPR	27	17

They have the opportunity to eliminate three more teams if everything falls correctly. Although I don't think Liverpool is going down quite that easily...

Matches this week fall on Sat, Sun, and Monday... so get your updates in by Tuesday lunch.

Go United!

Premier League Contest - Match 27

Welcome Back!!!

We are already into Match 27 of our 38 match schedule. My how time flies.

While our ladies turn the other cheek, let's check out the table and see how our teams are doing...

Club	Pld	Pts
Man Utd	26	65
Man City	26	53
Chelsea	26	49
Tottenham	26	48
Arsenal	26	44
Everton	26	42
Liverpool	27	39
Swansea	27	37
West Brom	26	37
Stoke	26	33
West Ham	26	30
Fulham	26	29
Sunderland	26	29
Norwich	26	29
Southampton	26	27
Newcastle	26	27
Aston Villa	26	24
Reading	26	23
Wigan	26	21
QPR	26	17

It seems that United has eliminated a few more teams from top flight contention.

How's your team doing? Still in the hunt for Champions League?

There is a match on Monday, so let's get your comments in by Tuesday lunch.

and as always, Go United!

a few nice additions... the easy way.

I'd open up with something witty about not posting much lately.... but what are you gonna do? Fire me? Pfft...

to continue the theme week from my other blog, today we're concentrating on the word of the day.
Generosity.

At the last trade night, I got a baseball card given to me gratis. Nothing unusual about that, except this is no ordinary card.

Oh yeah.

Dale Murphy. M.V.P.

a little story behind it.... someone pulled it from a pack. Of course those who were gathered around at the time saw this and started Ooohing and Aaahing and calling my name.

At certain times of the evening, that's a good thing.

At trade night with a bunch of dudes.... not so much.

It only means someone pulled a card I want that I probably can't afford.

Anyways, the card was brought over for me to see by a buddy of mine.... after drooling I announceed to the room in general (as I had no idea who pulled it) that I would DEFINATELY want to trade for it.

Ten minutes later someone brought the card back and handed it to me.

Turns out they had a trade going with the person who pulled it,and had them throw in the card in the deal. They then gave it to me, gratis.

That was a pretty good way to start out trade night.

Apparently there is also a Chipper just like this one that I need to track down. I betcha that one won't be gratis.

Ah well..... it's all in the chase.


My pal Jamie also pulled a card for me. Rather than fling it across the room in anger, he gives me his Cowboy pulls.

This from last trade night....

this one from the one before ...

bittersweet as I believe Felix has fumbled his last carry for Dallas. Good luck whereveer you end up Felix.

Thanks guys!

Premier League Contest - Match 26

Here we go again... a full slate of games this weekend, with Liverpool and West Brom bringing up the rear on Monday.

Lucy is NOT a Liverpool supporter.

Get your results in by Monday night. Good luck, and Go United!!!

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!!!!!

Serious problem.

this is my life right now.....

It's over.. Game over man, Game Over!

Kudos to you and free internet cookies of you know the movie from which the title pays homage.

But it is over. No more football until September. Of course, we do have the draft in April, and the combine before that. But for true competition, we wait until fall.

Thank the gods there is hockey.

Some of you may remember that before the season started, my pal Jamie and I, or rather our alter egos, did a little pre-season prognosticating.

Let's review and grade, shall we?

Keep in mind that the two of us are desperate homers and will defend our respective teams until we die.


First up, Jamie. He picked.....


Okay. not bad. Correct choices with his Pats and the Niners. Also correctly picked the losing Super Bowl team.

As for me...

Aside from my love of the 'Boys... I nailed it.

Pats and Ravens with the Birds winning... Booyeah.
Niners in the Championship game... yessir.

Just ignore that Dallas part... *cough*...


3/4 ain't bad ya know.

Premier League Contest - Match 25

What better way to celebrate Match 25 than with Southampton's biggest supporter, Lucy.

Lucy is very excited her Saints are back in the Premier League.

I'm very glad that United beat them on Wednesday.

All games are this weekend so let's get your posts in by Monday afternoon.

And with the results from midweek, we can officially start the countdown to the Championship.

With 14 matches remaining... QPR has been eliminated. United now only needs to eliminate 18 more clubs!

Club Pld Pts Man Utd 24 59 Man City 24 52 Chelsea 24 46 Tottenham 24 42 Everton 24 41 Arsenal 24 38 Liverpool 24 35 Swansea 24 34 West Brom 24 34 Stoke 24 30 Sunderland 24 29 Fulham 24 28 West Ham 24 27 Norwich 24 27 Newcastle 24 24 Southampton 24 23 Reading 24 20 Wigan 24 20 Aston Villa 24 20 QPR 24 16 and as always... Go United!

Premier League Contest - Match 24

Those sneaky Englishmen and their mid-week matchdays. I almost missed it...

We have four matches today, starting in half an hour... and six tomorrow.

Could Newcastle slip into relegation???? With a loss to Villa and a win by either Reading or Wigan, and it's true.

Post up your results by Thursday lunch, capiche?

Go United!!!

Good bye, Farewell, So long

The faces, they are a changin'.

Rumour has it that the Braves have finallized a deal with Arizona to acquire left fielder, Justin Upton.

In exchange, Atlanta sends personal favourite Martin Prado...

young stud starter Randall Delgado....

and three prospects. Atlanta also receives 3rd baseman Chris Johnson in the deal.

I can't say as I'm thrilled with the deal. As a LF last year, Prado hit over .300 and was runner up for Gold Glove.
Upton hit .280 and was not in the running for Gold Glove.

Rumour has it that Atlanta was not going to pay Prado his 10-11 million asking price after this year. He makes 4 mil this year.

Upton makes 10 mil this year, and 14.5 mil for each of the next two seasons.

And we give up Delgado.

Now, I'll readily admit, these people are smarter than I am, but someone needs to explain this one to me.


In another deal I'm not too thrilled about that happened a month ago, the Braves swapped Tommy Hanson to the Angels for a reliever.

I'm not happy about it, but I do understand it. Injuries, $$$, too many starters, etc.... I get it. Even with these deals, the Braves still look to have the best pitching in the NL. And that bullpen is nasty good.

I'd show off cards of our new acquisitions, but I don't think I have any. None that I can find, anyway.

Premier League Contest - Match 23

Welcome to Match 23.

Need I say more?

We've got games today, Sunday and Monday, so get your posts in by late Monday afternoon, mmmmkay?

and above all, Go United!

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water....

The Big Man of South Beach is back. The Don of Cardboard, The Hitman of Havana, The King of Swing.....

 

AND.... he's having an uber sweet card draft. So go HERE and check it out.

 

 

The Cardboard Don

Premier League Contest - Match 22

A sad day indeed... this is the last pack out of the box.

But let's soldier through.

Cecille Gahr works on her throw in technique... over the head love, not to the side.

Tiffany Selby dares you to come and take her ball....

Sweet jesus. My next ex-wife, Lisa Gleave.

A dual! Alana Cury and Katie Lohmann team up in sportsmanship.

and finally, Tira Provost to end things off.

 

All matches are this weekend, so let's get your posts in by Monday lunch.

 

How did your team do in the FA Cup this past week? Or did they add/lose anyone during the transfer window so far???