Ever Closer.... 1956 Edition...

Okay, so it's ONLY one card. I'm not really getting any closer to my set. But one card IS one card. And it's a beauty.

Big Bill set me back $1.13 shipped. It's been a looooong time since I found a good deal like that.

This particular version is a grey back, if you're into that kind of thing. It doesn't much matter to me.

This addition leaves me wanting #'s 10, 31, 95, 107, 172, 219, 254, 257, 278

Six relatively easy ones and three not so much. Some dudes named Aaron, Matthews and Spahn.

Pfffft. For now, I'm happy with Mr. Bruton.

Even closer..... 1972 edition.

Another two cards closer. Today we're talking about 1972 Topps. Unlike yesterday's post about 1976 Topps, today it's all about a team set.
If you think I'm going to try and make a '72 set without access to American card shows you are nuts.

I was able to pick up a couple of high numbers in nice shape for .75 cents each. Now these aren't the insane Series 6 high numbers.... these are the are you crazy Series 5 high numbers.

#591 Paul Casanova

 and #601 George Stone.

I now need one Series 3 card, one Series 5 card and five, yes, five Series 6 cards.

#348 Sal Bando
#540 Felix Milan
#675 Pat Jarvis
#740 Rico Carty
#758 Gil Garrido
#764 Dusty Baker
#787 Ron Reed

closer and closer....

Ever closer.... 1976 edition.

It's a hobby, not a race, right? Good thing. Some of these sets have been wanting for quite sometime.  Case in point, my 1976 Topps set.
Recently, I was able to acquire two new pieces of the puzzle.

#19, George Brett. His second year card. (Remember when second year cards were a big deal?)

and #194, The American League Home Run Leaders.

The back of this card is epic, listing the season leader and his team going back to 1901. Bring your magnifying glass.
(I did scan it, but who knows where it is now, and I'm waaaay too lazy to re-scan.)

These certainly look a lot better than the 2016 incarnation. But that's not a discussion for right now.

I'm now..... 10 cards away from completion. (including the Traded set)

If you can help.... #'s 1, 98, 100, 160, 230, 300, 346, 550, 592, 599

10! !0 bottles of beer on the wall, 10 bottles of beer............

Constructive. Constructive. B. E. Constructive.

Growing up my parents tried to instill values in me. You know, morals, the difference between right and wrong, kindness, compassion, etc....
One of the things my mother always said was; "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."
I miss my mom. But I can still see the expression on her face after I've said something I perhaps should've thought more about... and then there it was...
"If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."

I was a quiet child.

Moving on.

As you all know, the new 2016 Topps baseball product hit the streets this past week. I've read a LOT of reviews on the product. From Night Owl on down.... everyone seems to have their opinion on it. I have yet to find anyone who actually likes it though. This may go down with '87 Topps and '91 Donruss as one of the worst sets of all time if believe what you read.

But in the interest of fairness, I say No. I will not just believe what I read on the internet. I will make my own decisions, have my own opinions, and NOT be influenced by others. (thanks mom.)

So here it is, my first pack of 2016 Topps.

Kevin Pillar as my first card. I think I had him in PATP's contest. I wonder if this gets me a consolation prize or something.

The gas seems to have overwhelmed Sanchez....

My first Brave! Matt went 8-8 last year.... I think we got him from the Padres...

look at the damage on that Greinke!!! That's not from Topps, that's from a card shop owner who happens to be a Dodgers fan.

A local boy! (According to MLB, Toronto is my "local" team here in Calgary.)

Who the hell is the Prince?????

ugh.

Okay. So I've ripped open my pack and now, keeping in mind my mom's instructions, I will give you my review on 2016 Topps baseball.


....



Welp. There's always next year.