Spurred into action

Night Owl posted some cards that he got from Corey.  As I was looking at the pretty pictures, because who really has time to read anymore, I noticed an Orel Hershiser card I thought I had, but wasn't sure.

It was a box bottom card from 1989 Fleer.  I thought that I picked it up in my Black Friday shopping spree at COMC.  I knew that I hadn't put the cards in the binder yet, so I started looking for the padded envelope that they came in.

I looked around the computer.  Nope.  In the stack of stuff by my bed.  No.  Ah, it must be in that pile of envelopes out in the sun room.  Nope, but I did find the packing slip.  On the bookshelf?  No.  Other bookshelf.  No.  Crud.

I slept on it and this morning, being a snow day for Caroline and knowing that after spending some time doing a jigsaw puzzle, cleaning the kitchen, catching up on some correspondence, putting a few loads of laundry in the washer, I'd set out to find the cards.  I looked in one more stack of stuff and bingo, bango, bongo, I found it.

1989 Fleer Box Bottom
Orel Hershiser (card # C-14)

It wasn't just this Hershiser, but cards of some other players I collect.  Bill Wade, football player.  I had the original of this card, and the Archive edition, but the GOLD Archive?  Nope.  I do now.

1994 Topps Archives 1957 Series Gold
Bill Wade (card # 34)

This is one of those oddball cards.  I'm guessing that they're plentiful in the Chicago area, but I don't live there anymore.  Ah, Chicago, where I could, and did, go to a card show every month.  There hasn't been a card show in east Tennessee in years.

1998 Discover Card Chicago Bears Fan Convention
Bill Wade (card # BIWA)

On to Del Harris.  Del kicked around the NBA as a coach for some time.  He went to the same college my wife did.  Milligan.  So did Francis Gary Powers.  But they don't make cards of Francis.

1995-96 NBA Hoops
Del Harris (card # 182)

Boy, howdy.  Doesn't this look like an ad for some sort of hearing aid or fiber supplement?

2005-0 Topps Total
Del Harris (card # 372)

Also in the package were about another ten or so cards.  I've scanned them, but will share them later.  Probably in two different posts.  Right now I'm averaging about a post per month.  I can't get too wild.

So thanks, Greg, for spurring me into action.  I almost wrote, "You can saddle me up and spur me all night."  But I didn't.  That would be wrong.

PWE - NRA

Plain White Envelope. No Return Address.

 A few weeks ago I received a PWE in the mail. I had come home from work.  Picked up the mail on the way into the house.  Shuffled through it.  Bill.  Bill.  Ad.  PWE.

That caught my attention.  I opened it and these came out.

1969 Topps Mini Album Inserts
Cleveland Browns (Bill Wade) (card # 4)

1990-91 Skybox
Del Harris (card # 315)

1981 Detroit News Tigers Centennial
Earl Wilson (card #51)

1989 O-Pee-Chee
Orel Hershiser (card # 380)

1996 Topps Stadium Club - Virtual Reality Members Only
Orel Hershiser (card # 26)

They were all on my Elusive Eight want list.  After dinner I rushed out to some meeting or rehearsal, thinking that I'd scan and put them away later that evening.

I don't remember what happened.  I guess I forgot about them, or decided to do it later.  The cards were placed back in the envelope and set aside.

When I went looking for them later, they were not to be found.  I looked in drawers, near the computer, on my bedside table, with the other cards.  Nowhere.  A sickening feeling started to form in my stomach.  I renewed my search with vigor.  That stack of papers.  With my other cards.  With my other cards on the bookshelf.  With my other cards in a box.  Nothing.

I let it go for a few days.  Ah.  That special place where I put the important papers.  That's where I left them.  No.  Inside the cover of that book I want to read next.  Back to the stacks of paper.  Near the other bills.

My wife had noticed that I was actually doing some cleaning while looking for the cards.  That made her happy that I was decluttering, but made me sad that I still hadn't found the.

Time to retrace my steps.  I finally found the envelope.  It had fallen off the stack of a clump of papers, down near my dresser.  They had been found.  There was much rejoicing.

So, kids.  This is a true, but cautionary tale.  Get a system in place to process your cards.  Know where they are.  I don't care if you scan them, blog about them, file them a month or even a year later.  But know where they are.

So, a big thank you to whatever kind and benevolent reader took the time to go through my wantlists, procure and send me these cards.  I'll be a better steward next time.

A Rookie Purchased

I went fishing in the waters of ebay and pulled this from the weeds.

1951 Topps Magic
Bill Wade (card # 2)

It was the $13.60 model.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that 85 % of the back hadn't been scratched off.  The sweet part of this is that I had to purchased some rather expensive items on ebay in the past few months.  I was reimbursed but I got to keep the ebay bucks.  Enough to pay for this one.  And the Jeff Lewis auto.  And two other cards I'll be showing in the coming days.

I think that I might be nearing the end of the line on the Bill Wade collecting train.  Sure, there are more issues out there, but I'm not really a Coke cap collector, nor do I need any Bell Brands or Kahn's cards.  But I'm leaving my options open.

Condition of a Rookie Card

We all know that there are a few things to consider when purchasing a card.

• Condition
• Condition
• Condition
• Price

But mostly condition.  Now, I think that we all have a weakness for old vintagey cards with slightly rounded corners and sometimes a pin hole isn't the worst thing in the world.  "Character" is what they say about them.  "Charm".

Here are some of the 1951 Topps Magic cards of Bill Wade that are currently available on ebay.  I searched for Bill Wade Magic.  You can get more results if you drop the Magic and ad 1951.

I've grabbed some screen shots of the fronts and listed Buy It Now prices, or starting bid price if an auction.

The card offered at the lowest price is in the poorest condition.  Since this is the one of the keystone cards to a respectable Bill Wade collection I'm thinking that I should pass on this one, despite the "charm".

$4.99

The second card has some promise.  Fairly tight.  A bit of corner ding.  The price is at the right range for me.

$13.60

Next card is a big dingier.

$18.95

Condition doesn't always apply to the front or the corners.  What does the back look like?  The "Magic" of these cards is one could scratch away the silver coating and reveal the answer to the question.  Topps revived this at least one more time in 1983 with their Scratch-Off cards.  I guess an unscratched card would be more pristine.  We'll see one in a bit.

Next up is a card for about $30.  Rounder corners, off center, and a nasty ding / crease at the bottom left.

$29.99

We're over $30 for this.  Ding upper right.  Rounded lower right.  Like Bill Wade, I think I'll pass.

$32.08

Close to a $50 card.  I've never spent that much on a single card.  And I won't, although it does look nice.

$49.00

And now we reach the highest priced 1951 Topps Magic Bill Wade card on ebay.  Two hundred dollars.  Look at the back, though.  Virtually pristine.  Except for the scratches.  The great condition isn't enough for me to want to buy this one.

$200.00

So, for those that know my collecting style, which card should I get?

Trade with dayf

So, this has been a long time coming.   A few weeks back I received a package from dayf.  I sent him some stuff that he was whining about wanting.  I think this trade started back when Obama was president.  The last time, I mean.

He included a nice drawing of Secretariat.

I had to digitally enhance the image to actually read it.  Maybe that is supposed to be Fusaichi Pegasus.

dayf went right to my Elusive Eight page of wants.  I hadn't updated it in too many months.  I haven't yet told him that I already had this fin.  I'll always take another one, though.  Bet you didn't know that Wrigley Field used to be the Home of the Chicago Bears.

When I got the package I opened it up, glanced through it, tucked the contents back in because I knew that I wouldn't be scanning it right away.  I only glanced at the cards. I didn't look at them.  I'm glad that I finally did, because I didn't have this card.  I have three other variations, but not the Chrome.  I don't have the Chrome Refractor, either.  I still am clueless as to what the difference between a regular Chrome and a Chrome Refractor is.  If I had them side by side I probably could figure it out, but stand alone?  Nope.

A unique sticker card with the sticker actually peeled.  This is the back.  Maybe it is a blank front error card.

Another card that I thought I already had.  But no.  This is the CyberStats version.  How can I tell?  Different number and the back says "CyberStats".

One time dayf said that he was going through gobs and gobs of Star Trek cards.  Since he was constantly hounding me for what cards he could send me and I was being such a goober about insisting only needing Hershisers or other cards from my wantlists, I relented and asked for some Tasha Yar cards.  But I had conditions:

Oh, if you find any Tasha Yar cards, I'd like one. But where her hair seems softer, not all slicked back like a semi-blonde Dr. Lilith Sternin from Cheers/Fraiser. 

I fell asleep last night trying to force myself to dream that I was a bad space engineer and that Tasha Yar got to take me into 'custody'. All I got was a couple of Ferengis making me do a prisoner pyramid while snapping photos with a Polaroid.

He indulged me.

Once, dayf taunted me on twitter that he had found some cards that I needed and the package was to be shipped very soon.  I replied that I had given up sports card collecting and was now only interested in One Direction stickers.  Apparently he believed me.

For those of you new to the sports card collecting blogosphere, you might be scratching your head and asking, "Who is this dayf of which he speaks?"

Well, he sent in a PunkRockPaint creation.  You want to see the back?  Initiate your own trade with dayf.

Actually, dayf is, in my opinion, one of the more honest card bloggers out there.  I do like his mercurial way of being totally apathetic about everything and then being all hot for Chipper.  He's got a good wit.  I don't always care for some of his word choices (they aren't always kid friendly), but it is his blog.  Not cool to criticize one that sends you cards, but he's a big boy.

Oh, he's also a stunt double for Rutledge Wood, star of the History Channel's Top Gear show.

Thanks, dayf, for the package.  I'll keep collectin'.  You keep lookin'.

New (to me) Bill Wade cards

I dipped my toes in the COMC waters. It was still and warm. So I stepped in. I'm glad I did, because I picked up four more Bill Wade cards.

1961 Topps
Bill Wade (card # 10)

1962 Topps
Billy Wade (card # 13)

1962 Topps Bucks Inserts
Billy Wade (card # 42)

1994 Topps Archives (1957)
Bill Wade (card # 34)

I've updated my Bill Wade wantlist page to reflect these pickups.

More Bill Wade Cards

These two Bill Wade cards came from ebay. Less than a dollar a piece, delivered. And I had some ebay bucks, so final price per card was about 55 cents.

1991 Quarterback Legends
Bill Wade (card # 43)

1993 Quarterback Legends
Bill Wade (card # 44)

1991 Hoby Cards SEC Stars - Bill Wade

I finally got another Bill Wade card.

1991 Hoby Cards SEC Stars
Bill Wade (card # 350)

How did I do that? I bought a box of  Hoby Cards.  I don't think they distinguished between retail and hobby, but it would have been fun to buy a Hoby hobby box.

Although the pack price tag says 99 cents, I was able to negotiate it down to just over 40 cents a pack for the box.  $15 for a box of 36 packs.  I've ripped not quite half the packs.  Teams from all over the southeast.  Wild hairstyles galore.  No autographs.  Yet.

Bill Wade - Quarterback

While doing some more research on the Harrison-Chilhowee Baptist Academy football team history, I came across a story in the February 1963 issue of The Chilhowee Clarion.

For those of you too lazy to click the above image I provide you a transcription:

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS ENGAGED
One of the periods of school life that every student looks forward to is Commencement. Chilhowee feels herself fortunate indeed to have been able to secure Dr. Harold Purdy and Mr. Bill Wade for the 1963 Commencement speakers.
Mr. Bill Wade will deliver an address to the senior class on Wednesday evening. Mr. Wade is a graduate of Montgomery Bell Academy and Vanderbilt University. He is a veteran of the United States Navy where he served as a Lieutenant. At present he is quarterback with the Chicago Bears. He is a leader in the Fellowship Christian Athletes' Conference and has been a leader of Christian young people since college days.
Dr. Harold J. Purdy will deliver the Commencement Address on Friday night May 17. He has for a number of years been active as a pastor and in denominational life. He is at present pastor of Belmont Heights Baptist Church, Nashville, Tenn., and President of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. We welcome these Christian leaders to the campus of Harrison-Chilhowee Baptist Academy and look forward to hearing and knowing them.

I'm guessing that in 1963 it was easier to contact and secure a Bears QB than it would be in 2010. I can't quite see HCBA contacting Jay Cutler and asking him to say a few words in May to a handful of graduating seniors.

Bill Wade is one of many a storied quarterback for Chicago, but only one of three that have won a championship. He joins Sid Luckman (who won four) and Jim McMahon (one). Bill and Jim also wore the same number on their jersey. Bill Wade is listed as the fifth best QB in Bears' history, according to one list.

Here's a card that I picked up from a SportLots.com seller. I got it for eighteen cents. Yes, you heard me. 18. No, it isn't really a spectacular card. One of Fleer's Million Dollar Moments cards. The back is basically full of rules for the contest and an entry form.


There's about eleven or so regular issue cards for Bill Wade and a few 'oddball' issues. From 1955 to 1960 he is pictured in a Los Angeles Rams uniform. From 1961 to 1965 he is shown as a Chicago Bear. The 'oddball' issues feature him in a Vanderbilt or Chicago uniform.

• 1951 Topps Magic - 2
• 1955 Bowman - 78
• 1957 Topps - 34
• 1958 Topps - 38
• 1959 Bell Brand Rams - 1
• 1959 Topps - 110
• 1960 Topps - 61
• 1960 Topps Tattoos - (10)
• 1960 Bell Brand Rams - 17
• 1961 Topps - 10
• 1962 Post Cereal - 119
• 1962 Salada Coin - 41
• 1962 Topps - 13 (short print)
• 1962 Topps Bucks Inserts - 42
• 1963 Kahn's - 90
• 1963 Topps - 61
• 1964 Coke Caps Bears - 33
• 1964 Coke Caps National NFL - 64
• 1964 Kahn's - 50
• 1964 Philadelphia - 26
• 1964 Wheaties Stamps - 70
• 1965 Coke Caps Bears - C23
• 1965 Philadelphia - 26
• 1966 Coke Caps Bears - C23
• 1981 TCMA Greats - 24
• 1991 Hoby SEC Stars Autographs - 10
• 1991 Hoby SEC Stars Samples - 10
• 1991 Hoby SEC Stars -350
• 1991 Quarterback Legends - 43
• 1993 Quarterback Legends - 44
• 1994 Topps Archives (1957) - 34
• 1994 Topps Archives Gold (1957) - 34
• 1997 Fleer Million Dollar Moments - 15
• 1998 Bears Fan Convention - 52
• 1999 Bears Fan Convention - 40

I compiled this information using Zistle.com, SportLots.com, CheckOutMyCards.com, Nearmintcard.com, FootballCardGallery.com, PhillySportsCards.com, Beckett.com and ebay.com.