1971s from the Night Owl

For several months I've been threatening to send Greg some cards. He beat me to the punch, sending 15 1971 Topps my way.  I've selected just four to show here.

Look how un-dinged these corners are.  No major chipping.  Some would quibble, pointing out printing flaws, the scant bits of white at the corners.  I see it, but I choose to ignore it.  If you saw some of the other cards I have in my collection of 71s  you'd say that these are Gem Mint 10s.

You can't go wrong with vintage Cubbies.

An unadulterated checklist.  Just reading those names brings back good memories.

I've always thought that Joe Morgan should be part of Greg's BA list.  But that's his list, not mine.  This is the first card of that era that I can recall where no players' faces are shown.

What a smile.  And a lot of pine tar.  Or his bat was hot footed.

Greg, thanks for getting me closer to my goal of completing my 1971 Topps set.  I still have a ways to go, but this get's me 5.7%* closer than I was at the beginning of June.




* I don't actually track percentages of set completion.  I just seemed like a funny number to add and I'd look smart.

Latest 1971 Topps addition

Tears of a Clown

1971 Topps
Jim Hickman (card # 175)

Several weeks ago a friend of mine, Jeff Archer, said that he was going to attend a card show in Cincinnati.  Would I like for him to help me with my 1971 Topps wantlist?  Sure!

He let me know that he was successful, mostly with dime box plunders.  We live on opposite sides of Knoxville and our paths didn't cross until last week when we both attended the final game of the Tennessee Smokies.

a few older Cubs enjoying the view at Smokies Park

We exchanged pleasantries, but more importantly we exchanged cash for cards. I came away with 56 cards. 54 cards that were on my wantlist, 1 dupe, and a Jeff Lewis card.

2000 Topps
Jeff Lewis (card # 294)

I thank Jeff for his friendship, but mostly for his willingness to be my card show proxy.  And his snarky attitude on Twitter.

A Pair of Bonus Athletics

Last week a few cards showed up in a PWE.  I knew that they were coming, because Bru of the fine Remember the Astrodome blog said he was sending them my way.

Let's see what he sent...

1971 Topps
Bob Locker (card # 356)

1971 Topps
Rollie Fingers (card # 384)

Rollie doesn't grow his 'stache until the 1973 Topps issue.

Bru, I've got a package ready for you.  But I've been saying that since January.  Patience.  I'm a busy man, what with this flurry of posts and all.

Seriously though, thanks for helping me with my 1971 Topps collection.

Another Listia Win

Last week I picked up a pair of cards from Listia. The winning bid? 503 credits. I'll do that any day. And twice on Sunday.

I needed the Jerry McNertney for my 1971 Topps set.  The Blasingame was just a bonus.

And now the backside. Love the cartoon on the backside.  Yee-Haw!

A trade with defgav

A while back a trade was set up with Gavin from Baseball Card Breakdown.  I don't know how it started, but I looked at his wantlist and had a few 1971 Topps that he needed.

He provided me with his address and a few weeks later I dropped them in the mail.  Yeah, I'm never too quick on shipping stuff out.  One of my many flaws.

He sent me a return envelope, stuffed with some 1971 Topps that I needed.  And a few bonus cards.

Here are the Series 1 cards that I needed.

I haven't studied them but I wonder how many non horizontal facsimile autographs there are in the 1971 set.

1971 Topps
Dave Campbell (card # 46)

Don Money is wonderfully miscut.  Love it.

1971 Topps
Don Money (card # 49)

Tom Dukes isn't creased, but just worn right there.

1971 Topps
Tom Dukes (card # 106)

And now one of the two bonus cards.  2015 Topps.  Sure, everyone's blogged about them.  But this is a wonderful addition to my Topps Type Collection.  Now if I could just find the binder.  Seriously.  I can't find the binder.

2015 Topps
Carlos Ruiz (card # 233)

Thanks for the trade, Gavin.

Some sports cards from Listia

I've been 'selling' some cards on Listia, mostly duplicate 1971 Topps.  I've been turning around and bidding on some cards that I want.  I won this disinterested Reggie Jackson for 3,580 credits.  The seller tossed in the ticked off Andre Dawson.  Reggie filled a hole in my quest to complete the 1971 Topps Series 1 (obligatory wantlist link).

1971 Topps
Reggie Jackson (card # 20)

1981 Donruss
Andre Dawson (card # 212)

Jeff Burton has moved from the drivers' seat to the broadcast booth. But my wife still likes him.  I bid on this lot and won for 503 credits.  I didn't even look to see if I need them.  As it turns out, I needed all three of them (obligatory wantlist link, part two).

1999 Press Pass
Jeff Burton (card # 50)

1995 Classic 5 Sport
Jeff Burton (card # 172)

2006 Press Pass VIP
Jeff Burton (card # 2)

I need to do much more sorting and cataloging of the Jeff Burton cards, but that isn't a priority for me.

Thoughtful Sox

A few weeks back I had posted about some of the 1971 Topps cards.  Adam, from the Thoughts & Sox blog, said that he had some to send my way.  Send them he did.

I'm only going to show the cards from the first series.  That will save my scanner's gears.  He sent along another 18 cards.

When I see Jim Colborn's name I think of Jame Coburn, especially in The Great Escape.  I know, they're two different guys.

1971 Topps
Jim Colburn (card # 38)

"Do you want to touch my Menke?  Oh, Monkey.  Never mind."

1971 Topps
Denis Menke (card # 130)

Thanks, Adam.

Uncommon Experience at JustCommons.com

About a week and a half ago I placed an order with JustCommons.com.  It turns out that their customer service is well above their name.  One mistake in the order and two preemptive corrections.  Works out just fine for me.

I'm trying to complete Series One of the 1971 Topps set without breaking the bank.  Condition be darned.  Several bloggers (and a reader), a few OBC members, Listia, and my local card shop have helped me get closer to my goal*.  I can add Just Commons to that list.

I ordered 38 1971 Topps cards, condition ranging from GD to EX.  Prices ranged from 20¢ to 75¢, with the average price being 35¢ each.

Can you spot the mistake?

1971 Topps
Jose Laboy (card # 132)

No, of course you can't.  I ordered up card #32 (Jerry DaVanon).  They sent card #132 (Jose Laboy).  The Laboy card is so off center, top to bottom, that it cropped the 1 out of the 132.  They had it misfiled.  Honest mistake.  I needed the Laboy, so no harm, no foul.

Now let's look at their preemptive corrections.  I received the following email from them:

Hi
Shipped out your order but sorry as two cards were in worse condition then stated. Cards #97 and #126 should have been in Poor condition instead of Good.  Refunded the .40 for them but sent them with package in case you wanted them.
Rest were good.
Thanks

Let's look at the cards in question.

1971 Topps
Floyd Wicker (card # 97)

The lower right corners are gone.  I would agree that they are in Poor condition.  But it doesn't matter to me.  I appreciated them letting me know and the refund.  With the refund in place that drops the average price per card to 34¢.  The cards arrived quickly and in good packaging.

1971 Topps
Danny Coombs (card # 126)

I'm good with those.

If you want a excellent pricing and great customer service, visit JustCommons.com and place an order.  Free shipping on orders over $10.

* By my count I've got 61 of the 132 cards in Series One.  Halfway there.  Here's my 1971 Topps checklist.

A one sided Argyle trade

Many weeks ago I was flipping through the webosphere and read Greg Z's Plaschke Thy Sweater is Argyle blog.  I've read enough of his fine blog to know that although he appreciates Dodgers he's very tuned in to Kemp, Martin, et al.  He shows more hits in a week than I get in a year.  And good for him.

He was showing of some cards that he had received in a trade.  Right there on his blog was a picture of one of my Elusive Eight.  A Louisville Slugger tag/card of Orel Hershiser.

1986 Louisville Slugger Tag
Orel Hershiser

I figured that I'd be bold and ask for it in trade.  I found a few recent A&G cards that were on his wantlist and I bugged him about it.  He sent me the tag/card and more.  Didn't want anything in return.  I'll have to rectify that some day.

The more?  Dodgers pitcher don sutton.  Or Don Sutton if you're not living in 1971 Toppsville.

1971 Topps
Don Sutton (card # 361)

Wait, there's more.  Also tumbling out of the package was this golden Box of Mystery.  

This receptacle of card goodness has been quietly making its way around to various bloggers.  What it holds is almost too much for mere mortals.  I can't begin to describe what I found inside.  So I won't.  I'll be adding some leftovers quality items and sending it on its way soon enough.

Thanks, Greg, for your generosity.  Now I have to update my Elusive Eight.

State of the blog and stuff

So, I came out of the gate at the start of the year like I was riding California Chrome or something.  Well, at least for me.  I really picked it up in March.  I slacked off in April.  Although I posted only 11 times, they weren't really so much about cards, but about the things I was doing.  Sure, card or baseball related, but not focused on cards.  I'm okay with that.

April was a busy month.  My folks came in for a visit, as did my brother and his wife.  We celebrated Caroline's birthday.  We celebrated Easter.  We were busy.  And I haven't yet told you about the meeting I attended with two former members of the 1953 Maryville-Alcoa Twins.  Or the time spent poring over the personal scrapbook of a Major League catcher.  "Who?", you ask.  (Hint: I've been recently looking at his pictures over at Old Knoxville Baseball)

I've gotten a mystery package that I need to show.  And the payout from the Tribe Cards from Outer Space palooza just landed in my mailbox.

Another generous blogger helped me knock off some more of my 1971 Topps wants. I've now collected about 19% of Series One for the 1971 Topps set.  Cards to be shown later.

I picked this up from Listia a bit ago.  I don't remember the details of when or how much and I'm too much of a slacker right now to go hunt down that info.

1971 Topps
Bill Melton (card # 80)

From my first Zistle trade...

1992-93 Topps Stadium Club
Kevin McHale (card # 147)

I gave up a Gary Carter and an Orel Hershiser for this nice bit of Celtic pride.


And since the Throw Back Thursday hashtag seems to be running rampant, let's look back almost four years ago when I created this...

The card.  Not Ryan Zimmerman.  Dorks.

The "State of the blog"?  Doing well.  Thanks.

Trade with George V.

I recently completed a trade with George V., of the Old Baseball Cards club.  I sent him some Topps hockey cards that were on his want list.  In return he shared some 1971 Topps, a few football cards and a small number of Hershisers.

Let's take a look at some of them.

Ron Klimkowski had a short career with the Yankees and the A's.  This is his first US Topps card.  He was featured a few year prior in the 1967 Venezuelan Topps set.  On that card it says that Ron exhibits "una buena slider."  It also lists his date of birth as 9-3-44 where his 1971 card shows a date of 3-1-44.  What's eight days between friends?

1971 Topps
Ron Klimkowski (card # 28)

Luis Tiant's 1970 Topps card also shows him with the Twins although for the 1971 season he was pitching for the Red Sox but not well.  He went 1-7 that year.  Love the miscut on the right hand side of the card.

1971 Topps
Luis Tiant (card # 95)

By sending the football cards George may have unleashed a new interest.  "I do not need another collecting goal.  I do not need another collecting goal.  I do not need another collecting goal."  That being said I might have a new collecting goal.  I might try to put together a Topps Type Collection - football edition.

I wasn't aware that Bert Rechichar played for the University of Tennessee.  I was even aware of Bert Rechichar.  I like the "portrait you'd put on your piano" design, especially how Bert's holding his helmet.

1954 Topps
Bert Rechichar (card # 74)

Similar statements for Harry Schuh.  Besides the buzz cut I like the non-grimacing Raider face.  Not quite happy, but not mean.  And another Tennessee tie-in with Schuh.

1966 Topps
Harry Schuh (card # 117)

Thanks, George, for your generosity.  I'm getting closer to filling out the application for the OBC.

1971 Topps Baseball - gack

I've mentioned before that I'm trying to join Old Baseball Cards.  Although not yet a member I've completed my first trade.  It seems that they're rather loosey-goosey over there.  I hooked OBC member Jake E. up with some 1970 Topps Supers and he in turn hooked me up with some 1971 Topps.

It seems that one of the tenets of OBC is condition doesn't rank very high in importance.  Sure, everyone wants that nice Gem Mint but I'd much rather have loved and used cards than a stack of pristine cardboard.

Since I'm just starting to get into the world of vintage I don't really have a want list of vintagey cards.  I've been leaning more towards collecting type cards.  Examples, you know.

I recently picked up a trio of 1971 Topps Cubs from Listia.  It is the set that I first remember having cards.   Jake saw that and hopped on the nostalgia band wagon.  I didn't want to start becoming a set collector.  Especially of that set.  Having decided that condition is not primary, it still would take a bit of coin to complete that set.

Let's take a look at three of the cards Jake sent my way.

Some previous owner decided to frame "World Champions" inside the year that they won.

1971 Topps
World Champions (card # 1)

The back is interesting as it lists both the St. Louis Browns and the Baltimore Orioles team records.  I don't know why they didn't include the 1901 Milwaukee Brewers in there.  I haven't checked that team's records but I do know that they finished 8th in the American League with a 48-89 record.  More research to be done.  For those of you who don't remember or plain just don't know, the Browns became the Orioles for the 1954 season.

Most everyone loves League Leader cards.  I know I do.  Alex Johnson had the same BA as Yaz, but he had 16 more hits.  I would have given him the title as well.

1971 Topps
1970 AL Batting Leaders (card # 61)

Joe Pepitone.  According to the back of his card he's always controversial.  Way to choke up on the bat, Joe.  Take a look at the card above.  See how Tony holds his bat?  Why don't you try it the same way?  And nice sideburns.

1971 Topps
Joe Pepitone (card # 90)

So, I still really don't want to complete this set, but I will keep adding to what I have.  I've set up a checklist/wantlist but I'm highly confused.  I've divided up my list in six series, as per the number of checklist cards in the set.  Other sites on the internet talk about seven series.  I'm not sure where they came up with that number.  The final series may not have been widely distributed or printed to the degree that the earlier series were but was it six or seven?  That should be easy to figure out.  Any 1971 set experts out there care to help?

Speaking of help, if you're in a trade with me right now, or wish to be, and you just can't seem to find that Earl Wilson Chem-Toy ball or that elusive 1 of 1 Hershiser, here's your chance.  Take a look at my 1971 checklist/wantlist. Help a fellow out. I'll never turn down a PWE.