my latest three way...

 

as most of you may know, I dabble in the ttm autograph world. I've been fairly successful, despite the U.S.P.S's attempt to send all of their children through college via my postage needs.

 

one of the people who is known for his generous signing habits, is baseball legend, Dale Murphy.

 

Being a lifelong Braves fan, I have written to him several times for an autograph. I've sent photos, cards, a ball once... all to no avail. While Mr Murphy signs anything that isn't nailed down for EVERYONE else on the planet, he avoids, nay, shuns my requests.

 

Although that restraining order looks great framed on my wall..... it's his auto I want.

 

Enter in a plain white envelope I received in the mail awhile back. It had familiar writing on it, and the name of the sender was familiar. You know him, the master of the lack of capitalization, gcrl.

 

Now gcrl lives in Minnesota. How a Dodger fan ended up in Minnesota is a story best left for him to tell, but he's there nonetheless.

However, the return address / postmark was from Salt Lake City, Utah.

 

I know gcrl isn't a travelling vacuum salesman.... and it's doubtful he took some cards along with him on vacation just to mail them away like postcards.... so wtf?

 

Curious, I open said PWE.

 

Out pops this.....

 

Now.... Mr Murphy DOES live in Salt Lake City.... So what we have here, is a good blogger friend writing to Dale Murphy, and asking him to take pity on me and send me an auto.

And that's just what he did.

If only everything in life was this simple.

Thanks Jim.... and Dale.

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!

Unlicensed and free!

For those of you here for the ongoing contest, a reminder that the Premier League is on a break this week so players can fulfill international obligations as their respective countries try to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.

 

To bring you up to speed, Canada beat Panama 1-0, while the U.S. lost to Jamaica 2-1.

 

A huge win for the Canucks.

 

Check back next Saturday for more Premier League action.

 

As for today, may I present you with a Panini unlicensed Dale Murphy autograph #'d 20/25.

 

Leave it to Panini to come up with a card called Limited Leather and include an auto instead of a glove relic, AND show the player batting instead of fielding.

Ah Panini..... consistancy at it's best.

This auto for the two time MVP came to me gratis via a good friend of mine at last night's trade night.
Thanks bud!

BTW, a little about Mr Murphy here.... some of you may not know that he came into the Bigs as a catcher. The Braves didn't like him there, so they moved him to first base. After a horrible season in which he committed 20 errors in the field, they moved him to center field where he promptly won five straight Gold Gloves.

How often do you hear that? The kid can't hack playing first, so let's hide him in center. Five Gold Gloves and two MVP's later........

Joy of a Completed Page - One Card Challenge Edition

Most of you know, or should know, about Night Owl's One Card Challenge. I've written about it here once before. This is success number two for me. And I've helped three people. A pretty good idea if you ask me.

I had listed this Dale Murphy card and ironically, Owl had it himself. While I'm not collecting the '83 Topps set, I am collecting the '83 Topps Atlanta Braves team set. For which I am now done. I think. I'll explain that at the end.... first the card.

Awesome.

 Now the set.... forgive the cropping. My scanner was in a mood this morning.

 Remember when Joe Torre couldn't manage??? The Dodgers found out first hand. I wonder how he did so well with the Yankees? What's that? A billion dollars over the salary cap every year? Oh. That explains that.

 Four different uniform combinations on one page. Who says the Pirates had all the fun?

 Now here's where it gets hinky.... Dale gets slotted in his page, next to the Super Veteran inserts and above the traded set.

 Now I use Teamsets4u as a checklist. Most of you do. But it does not list those sneaky Super Veteran inserts, nor any other non-base like leader cards. So really, I think I'm done, but I have no idea.


Owl also sent this rookie card from a set I've never heard of. It's not flagship, nor series 2, nor Updates and Highlights...... again, no idea what it's from. I MUST start paying attention to this kind of thing soon.

 We all know Owl's favourite set is Bowman, and he was kind enough to share a card with me. It's green and shiny and xfractory....

 Speaking of green, I also got a mini from the Lineage set. My FIRST MINI from that set!!! And from the mini master too.... Maybe I'll be able to get the other Braves mini's from Lineage soon. If anyone has any....

 and a '75 mini. The original mini. I'm close to my team set on these as well.... although this one is a dupe. But I'll trade him for one I need. Love that warm up jacket under the jersey look.

 I also got this sparkly wonder.

No idea why, except for a nagging feeling that I had requested it or something.... I have to start writing this stuff down...

Thanks Owl!

some catching up

in my desperate attempt to get caught up on the recent (and not so recent) mail days, I give you a double header.
First up Greg from Lake Effect Baseball Cards sent me a few National Prides for my attempt at the '09 Ginter set. But he also included this beauty.
the last card I needed to complete the 1991 Score set. Well, the first 800 cards anyways....

and I also received a package from Sean at Condition Poor, a new blog to me, but I quickly found, an excellent one.
Sean also sent a few Ginters in exchange for the same. He included with them a couple of Dale Murphys to try and cushion the blow at the fool voters who did not, and have not voted Dale Murphy into the Hall of Fame. Neither in Cooperstown or at Collective Troll's Bloggers Hall of Fame.
Thanks guys!!!

Think you know the HOF contest

There seems to be a plethora of contests today. Must be something in the water.

The latest is from my good friend Troll. No really. That's his name. (a little more believable than his other name)

So go here, read the instructions, and have some fun. You may even win the trunkload of stuff he's giving away. AN ALL HALL OF FAME CONTEST!!!!!!

And by the way, if you don't vote for Dale Murphy, then SHAME ON YOU!!!!