The 2016 "Why is he still posting?" contest

I had a bit of time and a bit of jingle in my pocket on Saturday.  I stopped by one of my local card shops to take a look-see.  The owner, Bill, was kind as always, but was nudging me toward things he wanted to unload.  Jerseys?  Nope.  Junk wax era Bowman sets?  Nope.  More jerseys?  More nope.  Football?  Nope.  A stack of beat up vintage cards?  Huh?  Yep.

I picked up about 40 cards in ragged condition for a bit more than I would have spent in the dime box, but not as much as I would have spent in the 15¢ box.

So, I'd like to share some of my good fortune with you.  Contest time.  The winner takes away these six fabulous cards.  As pictured.

1962 Topps
Mel McGaha - card # 242

1964 Topps
Lou Brock - card # 29

1967 Topps
Hank Fischer - card # 342

1967 Topps
Angels Rookie Stars - card # 367

1969 Topps
Steve Hamilton - card # 69

1971 Topps
Gil Garrido - card # 173

So how does one enter? I could ask that you submit your World Series predictions, with total number of ejections for the Series, but that seems like a long time to wait for a winner to be chosen. Doesn't the Series end around Thanksgiving this year?

I could ask that you pick your favorite post that I wrote this year, but that would limit it to about a dozen different choices.

Maybe I could ask you to write an essay as to why you think I still blog.  Too much work on both of our parts.

Okay.  We'll make this a random selection.  Comment with one of the three options above (WS winner prediction - ejections not required, your favorite post of mine this year, or why you think I still blog).  You must comment, but your answers don't sway the randomizer.

All good contests have a deadline to enter.  This one should, too.  Let's call it 8pm, Eastern, on Thursday, October 6th.  The AL Division Series should start.

More rules.  Sharing this post doesn't get you any more slots in the randomizer.  Comment as many times as you'd like.  One slot per blogger/reader.  After the contest is closed I'll put all the names in the randomizer and click it as many times as I darn well feel like it.  The winner will be announced later.  The cards will be sent out via USPS, probably in a PWE.  Really, what more could happen to them?

Thanks to my loyal followers who feverishly refresh the page hoping for some of the best card blog writing to come out of the greater KnoxVegas area.  By that I mean that it probably in the top 10 card blogs in Sevier county, Tennessee.

Now, go comment and make me feel good.

Contest Ends Today

Yep, the contest ends today. Don't forget to enter.

Milestone Contest

I'm going to have a contest in honor of a blogging milestone. Mr. Night Owl himself recently crested the thousandth entry mark for his wonderful blog, Night Owl Cards.

I've been blogging about cards for about 17 months or so. I've got about 40 % of the posts that Greg does. But this isn't about numbers. Well, okay, it is. When I say I've got about 40 %, that means I have 401 entries. I took a moment and looked back to from where I started. January 10, 2009. By the end of that month, I posted 26 times. I received just six comments. One was from my dad and one was from someone trying offer me something in exchange for some advertising space.

But I carried on, slugging my way through what I thought was a meaningless pathway of drivel, ready to toss in the towel. Along the way there were some blogs that spoke to me. Greg was one of them. Perhaps because we used to live a few hours from each other. Perhaps because we're about the same age. Perhaps because he's just a good writer. We'll go with that last one. Greg's writing makes me smile. Oh, other bloggers elicit a similar response. You know who you are. This is Greg's post. Get a life.

So, in honor of Greg wasting hours of his life behind the keyboard and hovering over the scanner, I present a contest. But since this is my blog and I hit a much smaller milestone and I'm feeling rather vain this evening, I would like you to let me know which post of mine made you smile. If you want to let Greg know which post of his you enjoyed, you can as well.

Yes, that means you actually have to go back through some of my posts and do a bit of homework. Really, it won't be so terribly awful.

What? You want to know about the prizes? Like this isn't about me? Hah!

Well, before the prizes comes the rules.

• Comment below with a post or a phrase from my 400 or so entries that made you smile like Willie is smiling in the above photo.
• The contest will end on Friday, June 18th. Saturday, June 19th is right out.
• I will select the answer that I like the best. The rest I'll toss into the randomizer for other prizes.
• I'll ship the prizes out after July 1st. Yeah, I'm slow like that.

Now, the prizes...

• A computer (Windows) version of Strat-O-Matic's Baseball game.
• A few baseball books. Semi-decent ones, too.
• A mess of cards of my choosing. Not your favorite player, not your favorite team. Unless you're lucky.

There. No bonus entries for spreading the word. No guessing the players in a photo. No trying to bribe me. Save that for Gint-A-Cuffs II.

Quatchi says, "Enter"

Yep, it is random Olympic country contest time over at JD's Wild Cardz. Make a comment, pick a number, get a country, watch and win. Really, it is that easy. Sumi, Quatchi and Miga want you to enter.

Contest over

We have a winner. I'm declaring that Sean, from Condition: Poor, is the winner.

My intent was to put up a simple puzzle, without instruction to see what would happen. Interesting how some users tried to solve it without even knowing what, or if, there would be a prize. It is generally implied that a contest = prize. And it was true in this case.

I'll be sending the prize, the Cy Seymour card to Sean, who will be the caretaker of it until he's ready to send it off in about a month.

For those of you who want to know the answer and how it was solved...

The instructions were the names of the images. Yes, they were vague, but that's part of the puzzle.

"I Want Cy" is the answer I was looking for. But since it is my blog, Sean thought that I wanted Cy.

The numbers of the cards correspond to the 26 letters of the alphabet. Steve Braun is card # 9. The ninth letter of the alphabet is I. Switching to a different set to signify a new word, Ken Landreaux's card # is 23. The 23rd letter of the alphabet is W. You get the picture.

I = 9

W = 23
A = 1
N = 14
T = 20

C = 3
Y = 26

An unintended red herring came into play when Bob Welch, as a Cy Young Award winner, was thought to be the answer. Nope.

Then I made an incorrect assumption. Actually I made it a few days ago. I assumed that people knew everything about my blog. Sure, I'm the guy that collects cheap HoF relics, likes Orel Hershiser and is a pain to trade with because my want lists are so specific. But then I remembered that we all have lives and there are days that go by when I don't look at every blog entry of every card blogger. Actually, I've trimmed my reading down by quite a bit. I don't know why I assumed that the contest entrants would know that I am the current keeper of the Cy Seymour card. You all shouldn't. I'd like it if you did, but my blog isn't everyone's cup of tea.

So, bottom line... this wasn't the Ginter Code. And you didn't have to buy anything. I've declared Sean the winner and you can bug him after the New Year.

Greg, I'm sorry that I made your head hurt. Many Dodgers will soon be on their way to ease the pain.

I also do catalog reviews and one of those is due up in the next day or two.

Contest

Upcoming Contest

At noon, Knoxvegas time (EST), on Wednesday, December 2, 2009, a contest will be posted here.

Just a friendly heads up.

This and That

End of the month. Busy, but fun Thanksgiving weekend. A stop at the card shop. Two new blogs I'm reading. A contest. A contest to be. Thunder and thunder stolen.

Okay, it is late Sunday night. I'm trying to increase my average monthly postings to once every two days. I'm tired. This is a mishmash, a slop filled excuse for a post.

I finished up reading A Colossal Hoax.

I did some Black Friday shopping. Some Christmas stuff, some other stuff. It wasn't too bad. The crowds at the stores I went to were very small. The staffs were nice and helpful. I didn't spend much time waiting. I got to go to a card shop.

I was able to pick up some cards for possible trades / just because they 'need' them. The proprietor was helpful, but he didn't have any Press Pass Fusion, as the manufacturer said he would. The proprietor didn't even know what the cards were. But I was able to dig through his quarter box and found some fun cards. Here's one I think is thunderous...

While researching this card, I came across a blog that is new to me, but one that I'm going to start to read on a regular basis. So, do you like...stuff? A few months ago Mike Kenny did a blog entry on this exact card. And he did it in a way that is much better than I ever could have dreamed of. Thunder stolen, but I'm okay with that.

I also stumbled across Anthony K's blog, Balk Four. He's having a contest. It is Ginormous. I've already conversed with Anthony and I'm hooking him up with some cards that he's interested in. I'm not ashamed to grease any wheels that I can when it comes to contests.

Speaking of that, Beardy is having a Ho Ho Holiday Contest. I've submitted my entry. Others are quaking in their boots and are starting to come around. Beardy's stash of cards should be going out this week. Grease, grease.

And I should be posting a contest here in the next few days.

Oh, and I went to the Fantasy of Trees that the East Tennessee Children's Hospital puts on. Tons of Christmas trees, wreaths and decorations. A friend was in a dance troupe that performed. She did a great job. And Caroline spent some time with Santa.

I'm a winner!

I enjoy the contests in the sports cards blogosphere. There are many generous bloggers out there.

The other evening I was playing BoBuBingo at Crackin Wax. I didn't win, but had a fun time.

My folks asked if I ever won any of the contests that I entered. I told them of the time I got the off-centered Dan Uggla jersey card from Dinged Corners. And that I just received an Antoine Walker card/jersey card combo from Shot Not Taken.

Then I walk back to the laptop to check my email. I received a note from Mike over at Bad Wax saying that I had won a "Hockey Smorgasbord" of cards. He also asked if we could exchange links on our respective blogs.

I had to think about that one for a while. Mike is a talented writer and has a great blog. His player Definitive Collections are a must read, as are the weekly Free Autograph Signing schedules. What I was having trouble with was his Craig's List Idiots posts. I think that they are an interesting look into sellers trying to make a quick buck. What I don't like is some of the language used in those posts. So, do I link to something that I don't like or set it aside, knowing that readers can get to his blog dozens of other ways? That is what I've been wrestling with in my mind the last day or so.

I tend to be conservative in many areas of my life. I don't use the type language that sometimes show up in the CI posts. I try to keep this blog as PG as possible. I do this for my readers, myself and my family.

I've come to a decision regarding this issue. I'm adding Mike's BadWax blog to my little blogroll. I'm not going to be reading the CI posts. I'm in favor of informed censorship. If you don't want to see/hear/read something, turn off the TV/radio/computer. Be responsible for your own actions. (NOTE: I'm not advocating that those avenues of information be firehosed with all sorts of content. I'm saying that I'm not going to tell Mike or anyone else what they can or can't say on their own blog. If I don't want to read a particular post, I know how to click to another one.)

I've also added Shot Not Taken to the blogroll.

So, thanks for the contest organizers. And thanks to the bloggers.

Update... I created this post this afternoon, but set it to 'be live' at 10:00pm. Since I originally wrote the post, I won another contest.

John, over at Boxes of Cards, held a contest for a TTM signed Bill Virdon card. I wasn't familiar with either his blog or Bill Virdon. But I entered and won.

John has been blogging since March of this year. He's got some very balanced insight and is engaging, with a good base of topics and a specific goal. Hop over there and read about it yourself.

Memory Jogged

Mr. Owl reminded me that 30-year old Cardboard hosted and has announced the winners of the contest.

Even though I selected the Dodgers, I didn't win.  In my fraggled memory, I don't remember seeing anyone else select them before I did.  But I'm not contesting the contest.  The comments clearly show that others selected that team before I did.  And clearly Brian did give me (by name, even) the chance to select another team.

I didn't follow up.  Either I need to follow his blog closer or write down when and where I enter contests.  Maybe both.

Congrats to the winners.  I would have picked the Bob Doerr card as well.

 

Mr. Short-Term Memory

I can't remember many things.

I don't remember batting averages or ERAs.  I don't remember which card design goes with which set and year.  I don't remember which contests I've entered in the card blogoshpere.  Sort of.

I remember that I entered the Dodgers to be first team to win 12 games this year on someone's blog.  I don't think that the Dodgers were the first, but I don't know that the Blue Jays were selected by anyone.

So dear readers, I come to you asking for help.  Where was that contest hosted?  Am I the winner?  And if so, what did I win?

Mr. Short-Term Memory: Excuse me.. Miss? You're welcome to sit here and everything.. but I think introductions are in order.
Date: Jeff. It's me. Caroline. Your date.
Mr. Short-Term Memory: [ checks her out ] Ohhh, hey, alright! So, what's your name?

Package out to BlueWorkhorse

This weekend I went through my cards and pulled about 50 cards from Atlanta teams to send to Shotgun Spratling. He won the contest I ran last week.

Not being content to just send him the cards, I actually looked at them for more than just the "Atlanta" connection. I decided to scan in four of them.
1991-92 Upper Deck - Stacey Augmon (card #5)
1981 Fleer - Rick Camp (card #246)
2001 Fleer Genuine - Rafael Furcal (card #80)
1990 Score - Bill Fralic (card #7)

Nothing says, "I want to be in the pros" like stone washed denim. Augmon was a great college player and bounced around the NBA for 15 years, averaging 8 points per game. He may be best known for certain locker room comments.

Nothing says, "Get me a bowlful of pancita" like Rick Camp's Fleer card. Camp is known for his 1985 HR in the 18th inning against the Mets. He's also known for stealing $2 million from the Community Mental Health Center in Augusta, Georgia. He was sentenced to a federal prison in 2005, so he should be out now.

Nothing says, "I'm bad" like untucking your pants pocket. Actually, Raffy hit .295 in this, his first year in the majors. That's bad... in a good way. I respect him. And I really like the Fleer Genuine cards.

Nothing says, "Who?" like a 1990 Score Bill Fralic card. Note the club of a hand that Mr. Fralic is sporting. Research says that he was the second overall pick in the 1985 draft and that he played in four Pro Bowls. A tip of my hat to Mr. Fralic.

We have a winner

 

The answer is 179.  The closest guess was Shotgun Spratling (222) who is the main writer for The Blue Workhorse, "a sports blog encompassing MLB baseball, NBA basketball, NFL football, NHL hockey, PGA golf, NCAA athletics, and everything in between."  Quite fun.  Apparently Mr. Spratling and his cronies attended Maryville College, just a stone's throw away from where I live.

I've contacted Mr. Spratling to find out which team cards he'd like.  I'm assuming that it will be the Braves.

Here's the supporting information on the answer....

According to Gene Florence's Standard Baseball Card Price Guide (4th Edition) here is a listing of all players (last names starting with A-C) that were only issued one Topps Chewing Gum Company, Inc. card from the years 1951-1991.

They are listed alphabetically. Any errors with this list are mine and might have resulted from small print, failing eyes and fat fingers.

Name                    Yr      No.
----                    --      ---
Abarbanel, Mickey       68      287
Adams, Mike             74      573
Adduci, Jim             89      338
Akins, Sid              85      390
Alcaraz, Luis           69      437
Aldrich, Jay            88      616
Alfaro, Flavio          85      391
Allen, Jamie            84      744
Alou, Moises            91      526
Alvarez, Ossie          59      504
Alvarez, Rogelio        63      158
Angelini, Norm          73      616
Ansley, Willie          89      607
Antonello, Bill         53      272
Appling, Luke           60      461
Arft, Hank              52      284
Arias, Rodolfo          59      537
Arndt, Larry            89TMLD    7
Aust, Dennis            66      179
Azocar, Oscar           91      659
Babitt, Shooty          82      578
Baez, Jose              78      311
Bakenhaster, Dave       64      479
Baker, Floyd            52      292
Baker, Steve            83TTR     6
Balaz, John             76      539
Baldwin, Reggie         80      678
Bales, Wes              67       51
Baller, Jay             88      717
Barbieri, Jim           67       76
Bargar, Greg            84      474
Barr, Steve             76      595
Bates, Billy            89TMLD    9
Bathe, Bill             91      679
Batton, Chris           77      475
Baumer, Jim             61      292
Beall, Bob              79      222
Beamon, Charley         59      192
Beamon, Charlie         80      672
Beard, Mike             76       53
Beard, Ted              52      150
Beardon, Gene           52      229
Beare, Gary             78      516
Beatty, Blaine          89TMLD   11
Beck, Rich              66      234
Becker, Joe             60      463
Bell, Dave (Gus)        51Trb    17
Bella, Zeke             59      254
Bene, Bill              89       84
Benton, Al              52      374
Berardino, Johnny       52      253
Bernier, Carlos         53      243
Bestwick, Jim           79      725
Bethke, Jim             65      533
Bevan, Hal              61      456
Birrer, Babe            56       84
Bittiger, Jeff          89      209
Bjorkman, George        84      116
Blades, Ray             54      243
Bladt, Rich             74      601
Blateric, Steve         73      616
Blaylock, Bob           59      211
Blaylock, Gary          59      539
Blaylock, Marv          57      224
Blocker, Terry          89       76
Blyzka, Mike            54      152
Bockus, Randy           89      733
Boehmer, Len            69      519
Bohammer, Jack          74      586
Bokelmann, Dick         53      204
Boles, Carl             63      428
Bollweg, Don            52      128
Bonikowski, Joe         62      592
Booker, Jim             76      243
Boone, Danny            82      407
Boris, Paul             83      266
Bourjos, Chris          81      502
Boyd, Gary              70        7
Boyland, Dorian         80      683
Bradely, Mark           84      316
Bradley, Tom            76      644
Brady, Brian            89TMLD   19
Brady, Jim              56      126
Braun, John             65       82
Brazle, Al              52      228
Breazeale, Jim          73       33
Brickell, Fritz         61      333
Brideweser, Jim         57      382
Brizzolara, Tony        80      156
Brown, Tom              64      311
Brown, Tommy            52      281
Brown, Winston          61      391
Browning, Brian         83      442
Bruhert, Mike           79      172
Bruno, Tom              79      724
Bryden, T.R.            87      387
Buchia, Johnny          52       19
Budaska, Mark           82      531
Burbrink, Nelson        56       27
Burdette, Fred          64      408
Burford, Don            64      368
Burke, Steve            78      709
Burton, Jim             76      471
Burwell, Bill           60      467
Buschhorn, Don          65      577
Byrd, Jeff              78      667
Caffie, Joe             58      182
Caffrey, Bob            85      394
Camilli, Lou            88       64
Campbell, Ron           67      497
Camper, Cardell         78      711
Canseco, Ozzie          91      162
Capel, Mike             89      767
Cardinal, Randy         63      562
Carpin, Frank           66       71
Casagrande, Tom         55      167
Cash, Ron               74      600
Casian, Larry           94      374
Castiglione, Pete       52      260
Cato, Keefe             85      367
Cedano, Andujar         91      646
Chambers, Al            85      277
Chapman, Ben            52      391
Chapman, Sam            51Tbb    52
Chappas, Harry          80      347
Chavarria, Ossie        67      344
Chiamparino, Scott      91      676
Chiffer, Floyd          83      298
Childress, Rocky        88      643
Chipman, Bob            52      388
Chittum, Nelson         60      296
Chlupsa, Bob            71      594
Chris, Mike             80      666
Chrisitiansen, Clay     85      211
Ciardi, Mark            88      417
Cias, Darryl            84      159
Cipriani, Frank         62      333
Clark, Al               52      278
Clark, Joe              85      740
Clark, Mike             53      193
Clark, Terry            89      129
Clarke, Stan            88      556
Clary, Ellis            60      470
Clemens, Doug           67      489
Clemons, Lance          72      372
Cochrane, Mickey        76TAS   348
Coggins, Frank          68       96
Cohen, Andy             60      466
Coker, Jimmie           67      158
Colbrunn, Greg          91       91
Cole, Alex              91      421
Collum, Jackie          57      268
Colpaert, Dick          73      608
Colson, Lloyd           71      111
Combs, Earle            54      183
Combs, Merrill          52       18
Compton, Mike           71       77
Conley, Bob             59      121
Consuegra, Sandy        56      265
Coogan, Dale            52       87
Cooney, Johnny          60      458
Cooper, Don             82      409
Cora, Joey              88       91
Corbett, Sherman        89       99
Cornell, Jeff           85      514
Costo, Tim              91      103
Coughtry, Marlan        62      595
Cox, Jeff               81      133
Cox, Jim                74      600
Cox, Terry              71      559
Craddock, Walt          59      281
Craig, Rodney           80      672
Cram, Jerry             71      247
Crosby, Ken             76      593
Cuccinello, Tony        60      458
Cuellar, Bobby          80      665
Cunningham, Earl        90      134
Curry, Steve            89      471
Cuyler, Milt            91      684

Key:
TAS = Topps All Star card of any given year
Tbb = 1951 Topps Blue Back
Trb = 1951 Topps Red Back
TMLD = Topps Major League Debut card set
TTR = Topps Traded card

It would be fun to create a set of these players by decade.  The 1980's wouldn't be terrible to create.  I'll let someone else do that, though.

 

My First Contest

 
Okay kiddos. Time for Uncle Mark's first contest.

I'm calling it The One Hit Wonders, ABC edition

Here are the prizes...

That's right.  A 1998 Can-O-Jr. from Pinnacle and a bag of 1991 Donruss cards.  

The cards in a can were reviewed by capewood last year.  And Kevin reviewed the Donruss a few weeks later.

Okay, after reading the reviews, these prizes aren't that great.  I'll dig up something else to toss in.  Maybe a handful of your favorite team.  Except for Boston.  I gave the bulk of those to John across the Pond.

Rules of the contest:

Leave a comment with your answer.  Only one answer per entrant.  All entries must be posted by 11:59pm, Eastern, Wednesday evening, February 18.  (That's about 26 hours from now.  Plenty of time.)  Winner will be decided by me as the enty that is the closest to the correct answer.  In case of a tie, the earliest entry shall win.  Legal mumbo jumbo.

Gene Florence's Standard Baseball Card Price Guide (4th Edition) lists all players that had baseball cards issued between 1948 and 1991 by the following companies: Bowman, Donruss, Fleer, Score, Sportflics, Topps and Upper Deck.  This contest concerns only Topps, 1951-1991.

The question is: 

How many players (with their last name starting with A, B or C)  had only one (1) card issued by Topps during that time period?  That card might have been a Topps Traded,  Major League Debut or an All-Star card.  The player might have had a card issued after 1991, but I don't care for about that for this contest.

Basically, pick a number between 1 and 1,000 and post it in the comments.

I was originally going to include all players, but the task got too large, therefore it is only players with the last names starting with A, B or C.

The winner and a list of the players will be posted after the contest has ended.

Game on.