1989 Orel Hershiser Socko Tips set

I've heard of this set for years, but have never seen images of the cards until today.  It was a seven card set.  I have no clue if it was a food item promotional set or given out at the ballpark.  I found these on COMC.  A bit steeper price than I was hoping for.  For now I'll just look at them.

1989 Socko Tips From Orel Hershiser
#NoN - Orel Hershiser (The Fastball)

1989 Socko Tips From Orel Hershiser
#NoN - Orel Hershiser (Fielding)


1989 Socko Tips From Orel Hershiser
#NoN - Orel Hershiser (The Fastball)


1989 Socko Tips From Orel Hershiser #NoN - Orel Hershiser (Pitching Motion)


1989 Socko Tips From Orel Hershiser #NoN - Orel Hershiser (Pitching Motion)


1989 Socko Tips From Orel Hershiser #NoN - Orel Hershiser (Fielding)


1989 Socko Tips From Orel Hershiser #NoN - Orel Hershiser (Holding The Runner)

Contest Results

At the end of the third, it is the Indians 4, Red Sox 2.

Let's randomize the list of entries 9 times (3 + 4 + 2 = 9).

And we have a winner.  Tony Burbs, please contact me at mark DOT aubrey AT gmail DOT com.

Thanks for reading and entering.  My WS pick earlier this year was Cubs over the Red Sox.  It still might happen.

I'll let you all ponder the true reason why I still blog.  I don't have a favorite post this year.  Yet.

Again, thanks for reading.

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.

Nigel Wilson tore his what?

At a local thrift store I found this sheet of cards that was angrily torn from the magazine that once held it safe.

They were created in the style of the 1973 Topps Football.  You know.  The "Participation Ribbon" set.  Everyone gets one.

Best I can figure out this is part of an early 1990s SCD Sports Card Pocket Price Guide set, maybe 1993.

Is it worth keeping?  Probably not.  It it worth throwing away?  Probably not, either.

Bonus points.  Nigel Wilson (card # 25) played in Knoxville.  Based on the info that is on the back of his card, "Last year" was 1992.    That would make this issue from 1993.

Yeah, I'm too lazy to go back and correct the year and set info above the cards.

National Baseball Card Day 2016

This last Saturday was National Baseball Card Day, sponsored mainly by Topps.  Caroline and I had a daddy / daughter date day thing going on, consisting of heading to Best Buy to purchase a 3TB hard drive, Build A Bear, lunch, the movies (The Angry Birds Movie), and then to Sports Treasures to pick up a free pack of baseball cards.

Caroline and I each got a pack.

  I opened my pack that night.  Six cards.  The usual suspects.  I was pleased to have an Ichiro in my pack.

Topps National Baseball Card Day 2016
Evan Longoria (card # 20)

Topps National Baseball Card Day 2016
Jose Abreu (card # 26)

Topps National Baseball Card Day 2016
Ichiro (card # 43)

Topps National Baseball Card Day 2016
Jose Bautista (card # 40)

Topps National Baseball Card Day 2016
Joe Mauer (card # 31)

Topps National Baseball Card Day 2016
Sonny Gray (card # 34)

On Sunday we opened her pack.

Topps National Baseball Card Day 2016
Madison Bumgarner (card # 1)

Topps National Baseball Card Day 2016
Evan Longoria (card # 20)

Topps National Baseball Card Day 2016
Ichiro (card # 43)

Topps National Baseball Card Day 2016
Jose Bautista (card # 40)

Topps National Baseball Card Day 2016
Joe Mauer (card # 31)

Topps National Baseball Card Day 2016
Sonny Gray (card # 34)

Holy Collation Issues.  Her pack had five of the same cards as my pack.  She picked up Bumgarner and dropped Abreu.

I like the clean look of the cards and the depth of field / focus thing going on.  The backs have a decent write up.  Maybe getting away from stats isn't a bad thing on occasion.

Thanks, Sports Treasures and Topps, for free cards.

1938 Player's Cricket Album

Some time back I went ebay window shopping. This album caught my eye. I put in a bid and won for less than the cost of a blaster at WallyMart.

This is a smaller album than I had imagined it would be.  About 7-1/2" x 5"

Oh look.  A checklist.  And it has been partially filled in.

I guess it is now complete since every frame has a card pasted in.  All fifty of them.  I won't share every page.

I think I'd rather root for a club that has swords as their logo as opposed to flowers.  All the images are still portraits.  No action shots.

Clark Gable in the middle?

The colors on these cards just pop out, especially the red backgrounds.

Player's Please.

These are a nice complement to my other cricket card.

1928 Wills Cricketers
E. Hendren (card # 21)

Wow.  Another month, another post.  Who knows, I might crack 15 posts this year.  Ha.  Don't count on it.

Thanks to the faithful readers.  I don't know what I'd do with out the three of you.

Jeff Burton cover up

Ah, Listia, where others will buy your junk cards for credits and then you can use credits to buy their junk cards.

What? Relic cards of a car cover are not junk cards.  Well, maybe they are.

2004 Press Pass Eclipse - Under Cover Driver Gold
Jeff Burton (card # UCD 15) #/325

But you'll have to admit owning a card with small swatches of a firesuit, shoes, and gloves is pretty cool, right?

No?  It isn't? 

2009 Press Pass Legends Prominent Pieces
Jeff Burton (card # PP-JB) #/50

They're numbered.  Still no?  Crud.

At least I posted in June.