Another reason why "well loved" vintage is preferred

I've recently jumped on the Twitter bandwagon.  (@RMitchell2767 if you do want to know my ID, or whatever it's called..)  My tweets are usually nothing outstanding, since I just use the site for informational purposes (and to follow the myriad of bloggers out there tweeting).

I did find one tweet on Wednesday that really piqued my interest.  The tweet linked to an article on the Sports Collector Daily website that mentioned another technique used to alter cards, bleaching.

I've heard about, and seen cards that have been trimmed to remove any noticeable edge chipping or corner wear, but bleaching?  Using chemicals to remove dirt or hide the effects of aging is something that I'd never heard of, but now that I've read the article it just doesn't surprise me.

Now that I know this, I feel even better when I pickup cards that have backs that look like this...

Or cards from 1960 with a nice crease on the front like this...

the yellow letters actually stand out more on the scan

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not going out to find every beat up card in existence when buying cards for a vintage set.  I'm sure that everyone out there has their own dealer(s) that they trust to sell them cards that are free from any tampering.

But in a world where people are always looking to make a buck, you just never know. 

I may never look at a bottle of Clorox the same way again... (yes, I know that bleaching doesn't necessarily mean using bleach...work with me here..)

Thanks for reading, Robert

1.69 ERA....really?

If you had told me a couple of months ago that Barry Zito would beat Justin Verlander in game 1 of the World Series, I would have called you mad....

It can't continue, can it?

thanks for reading, Robert

My first foray into the '57 Topps set

At the show a couple of weeks back I decided to hit a table that I don't normally buy from.  The same table that I picked up the '70 Topps commons for a dime apiece (I still kick myself for not buying more of those).  This dealer also has a giant plastic tub full of top loaders (with cards, of course) priced at 6 for $5. 

I figured that with nothing better to do, I'd dig through the tub and see what was in there.  I came up with these 5 cards from the '57 Topps set...

The cards on the top row are all in pretty good condition, while the Throneberry on the bottom row is creased quite a bit, and the Dick Hyde (easy on the snickering...) has a well rounded corner and the back has a bit of paper loss.  The look of this set is easy on the eyes, because the lettering of the player and team names do not detract from the photos.  I especially like the Mack Burk card, it actually looks as if he's going to be chasing a pop up.

The set is smaller in size (407) than the 60's/70's sets that I have been chasing, but some of the cards, such as the Brooks Robinson RC and the Mantle list for unbelievable prices.   To top that off, there are several others that go for $100 +, which means that owning the '57 set for me is likely just a dream.

But at 6/$5, I will buy commons of this set every day of the week...

Thanks for reading, Robert

The one card that just about gave me a heart attack

I love the blogosphere.  You've seen me write that at least 100 times before on the blog.

But when one of the brethren that you love so much tries to kill you, well that's another story.

We've all received the emails...."hey, I've got a card that I'm sure you'll want, please send me your address and I'll send it to you post haste."   Thankfully, I've been on the giving and receiving end of these types of emails.   It's part of what makes the blogosphere great.

Well, on Monday I was on the receiving end of one of those envelopes.  But I didn't know it when I first looked at the envelope.   Remember a few days ago when I mentioned that I would try and give you a little more of a glimpse into my life?  LOL...here goes.

You may or may not know that I am currently on my 2nd (and hopefully last) marriage.  To say that my relationship with my 1st wife after the divorce has been contentious would be generous. 

Well, when I see an envelope in today's mail from "Stackhouse, Attorney at Law", my heart immediately started to race.  Things ran wild in my head.

"What the $#^$ is this?"  I ask my wife.  The nerves are racing, the pulse is quickening, and I know that my blood pressure is increasing by the second (that's a story for another day...).

I open the envelope, only to find this inside...

even better, here's the back....

Corey from the Classon Ave blog sent me this great blank back 12-13 OPC retro card of Dion Phaneuf.  Corey, it is a great card, thank you very much!!!!!

So, when I should have been excited about this card coming to my doorstep, I became excited for quite the wrong reasons. 

Let's just say that it took me quite a while to calm down, not because of the card, but because of the envelope.

Yes, my wife and I laughed about this later, but man oh man!!! 

Any other lawyers out there in the blogosphere?  Any more envelopes like this and I might be imitating Fred Sanford...

Thanks for reading, Robert

Blue Jay Monday: 1991 Topps Mark Whiten

Hard hittin' Mark Whiten.  What a great nickname.  It's too bad that he had to try and find a place in an already crowded outfield in Toronto during the early 90's.

Looks oh so happy to have had his picture taken

In 1990, he had George Bell, Mookie Wilson, Junior Felix and Glenallen Hill in front of him in the outfield.  In 1991, it was even worse because the Jays had totally revamped their outfield, and picked up names such as Joe Carter, Devon White, and Candy Maldonado.  Wilson and Hill were still with the club as well, and because of that log jam, Whiten was traded in June of 1991 to the Indians, along with Glenallen Hill and Canadian born pitcher Denis Boucher, for Tom Candiotti and Turner Ward.

Whiten would play a couple of years in Cleveland, a couple of years in St. Louis, then make quick stops in Atlanta, New York (Yankees), Philly, Seattle, and back to Cleveland again. 

The '93 season in St. Louis was Mark's career year, when he would hit 25HR and drive in 99.  Mark would have one great game in that season, September 7, 1993 when he hit 4 HR and had 12 RBI in a game against the Cincinnati Reds.  Mark was the 12th person in MLB history to hit 4 HR in a single game.  Only 4 players have hit 4 HR in a game since then (Mike Cameron, Shawn Green, Carlos Delgado and Josh Hamilton).

Mark certainly had the talent, but for him his career seemed as if he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, especially during his Blue Jay years.

Thanks for reading, Robert

Just 586 more shows to go

I've been picking up '62 Topps cards one at a time recently at card shows, and I don't know why.

If I were to keep on going at that pace, I'd only need to attend 586 more shows to complete the set!

At approximately 12 shows a year, it would take just under 49 more years to finish....

If I'm still alive, and writing at the age of 94, I promise you a party you'll never forget!!

Thanks for reading, Robert