It really is a GREAT problem to have

I had it all planned out.  Start thinning the three row shoe box piece by piece.   Putting together pages of Blue Jays with common themes, and show them off to the blogosphere.

The dry July would just fly by quickly, and the piles of cards would slowly get worked through.  Marked off the want list.  Entered into the Blue Jays spreadsheet.

It actually started off quite well.  I managed a to show off a couple of pages in between the Friday/Saturday tournament posts, and I thought I was starting to get a handle on things.

In the vernacular of today's acronym laced generation, I just LOLOLOLOL now.  Great men of the blogosphere, named Brian, Matt, Tom and Wes have added 4 packages of Blue Jays goodness (of varying amounts, I might add) to the pile, and brought a screeching halt to any progress I made over the past couple of weeks.

While perusing the great package I received today from blogger extraordinaire Wes from the Jaybarkerfan's Junk blog, I noticed the following.

Serial numbered parallel.  Jersey card.  Bat card.  Auto.  Auto.  Jersey card.  2 more serial numbered parallels.  Gold.  Green.  Silver.  Holy shit!!

I showed my better half of the cards, and explained that I wasn't even expecting this envelope today.  What does she do?  Naturally, she provides an epiphany.

"You really aren't paying for these cards, right?"  This statement made me think (she's good at that).  I've now entered over 4400 cards onto my Blue Jays spreadsheet, passing that mark largely because of the envelope that Tom sent me ( I owe you still Tom, I need to augment what I already have for you...), and thought to myself that I probably have received all but 10% of those cards from everyone out in the blogosphere. 

That's almost unbelievable.   But it is a GREAT problem to have. 

These two pages of 1991 and 1992 Upper Deck that I was able to pull out of the box only manage to put a meager dent into the "problem".

The '92 page is more interesting for me.  It made me remember that Jack Morris was a 21 game winner that year.  It made me laugh that Cory Snyder got a Blue Jays card even though he only had 49 ABs with the club, hitting a paltry .143.  Dave Parker had fewer ABs than Snyder (36) as a Jay, but also managed his final "sunset" card in 1992.  1992 was also the final season of Pat Tabler's career, but at least he managed to get a ring out of the deal.

15 out of the 18 cards here came out of the box (the other 3 were in a pile on the desk), bringing the total to 58 cards out of the box.  The problem is that I now have about 300 more that need cataloged, sorted, and put into the box for "posting".

Yes indeed, a GREAT problem to have.  Stay tuned...

thanks for reading, Robert

What is the proper response for a "Double Bipping"?

The other day I documented a 9 card lot of 1964 Topps I received from Marc at Remember the Astrodome.   The same day I received that bubble mailer, I received a 2nd, unexpected one from JT Steele.  It was full of 80's & 90's Blue Jay cards, including a card that I've always liked, and is a favorite in my collection.

1992 UD Blue Jays team checklist, featuring Dave Stieb.   I love Mr. Wells artwork here, the roof open at the dome with the CN Tower peeking through the opening.  While I tell everyone that I'm at home in the U.S. now, cards such as this that feature some part of the Toronto skyline always make me a little nostalgic (OK, maybe misty eyed is a better phrase). 

When I first opened this envelope, I went through it quickly because it was Friday, and I had other things on the agenda that evening.  Today, I took a closer look at the cards, and noticed that there were a bunch of the Topps Big cards from 1988 in there.   As a matter of fact, there were a lot more of them than I thought should have constituted a team set.

Then I started sorting through them.....

 

that's a whole lot of shakin' goin' on there.

even more featuring Kelly Gruber! 

Now I know that this isn't a true bipping, as I've seen guys get a mountain of a certain player in their envelopes.   But I feel like I've been kind of bipped.   Does that count?

I have always wondered what people said to the other when they were bipped.  I guess I'll say what I always do.

JT, thank you for the cards, much appreciated!!  No matter what is in an envelope that shows up at my door unannounced, I'm always grateful that someone out there is thinking of me.

Enjoy your Memorial Day everyone, and please be safe no matter what you're doing!!

thanks for reading, Robert